Pu Zhaozhou, director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Macao Affairs under the General Administration of the Civil
Aviation of China (CAAC), told China Daily on Tuesday that
the mainland is willing to take practical steps to facilitate early
implementation of direct air links with Taiwan, including cargo
charter services.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is expected to
announce a new policy about cross-Straits cargo charter flights at
its regular press conference on Friday, according to Pu. The move
is a major effort to push for direct air links with Taiwan.
The announcement comes on the heels of the successful nonstop
cross-Straits passenger charter flights operated during the recent
Lunar New Year holidays.
Pu said that officials would elaborate on the policy and their
positions regarding it at the press conference.
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian offered to discuss the issue of
charter flights with the mainland government last Wednesday.
Before meeting with representatives of Taiwan airlines at a
Lunar New Year party held in Beijing Tuesday night, Pu said the
proposed cross-Straits cargo charter arrangement is set to be a
main topic.
"Of course we will exchange views with each other on the issue,
but it is not a formal discussion," he said.
Senior executives of airlines from the mainland, Taiwan, Hong
Kong and Macao attend the annual party, which is hosted by the
CAAC.
Representatives from six Taiwan airlines attended yesterday's
event, which was closed to the media.
Lo Ta-hsin, chairman of the Taipei Airlines Association, was
also present. He reached an agreement in January with Pu on this
year's nonstop cross-Straits charter flight program.
"The passenger charters just concluded at the Lunar New Year
holiday provided a sound basis for the future cargo charter flights
across the Taiwan Straits," Lo told reporters before the party. But
he refused to give a timetable for the business to begin, saying he
has not been authorized to start talks about the issue.
Both the mainland and Taiwan airlines have expressed great
interest in the cargo charter business.
Song Chengren, deputy general manager of Xiamen Airlines, said
his company is eager to make the charter flights regular since
there are vast business opportunities between the two sides.
Xiamen Airlines is based in Fujian
Province, just across the Taiwan Straits from the island
province. Only 30 to 40 minutes are needed for direct flights from
the city of Xiamen.
"We have been preparing the cargo charters since 1990," Song
said.
Stephen Tsuei, chairman of the Far Eastern Air Transport Corp.
in Taiwan, said, "Both the mainland and Taiwanese airlines desire
the cargo charters, which can be turned into a reality technically
since a good pattern has been established."
The cargo charter business can help reduce the operating costs
of airlines and helps to improve competition, he added.
(China Daily February 23, 2005)