Route over Straits eases congestion

Mainland does not need Taiwan's permission to open airspace

The Chinese mainland does not need Taiwan's permission to open new flight routes to help ease airspace congestion over the Taiwan Straits, an official said on Wednesday, after Taiwan demanded an immediate halt to the new routes.

Civilian planes heading north will be allowed to use M503 - a route launched in 2015 only for southbound planes across the narrow Taiwan Straits - the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on Jan 4.