TAIPEI: Taipei Songshan Airport will build an international cargo terminal in preparation for the opening of a new air route between Taiwan and Japan next year, a senior aviation official said yesterday.

The airport in downtown Taipei, which has been used for domestic aviation services for more than 30 years, is already undergoing renovations, preparing for the inauguration of direct charter flights across the Taiwan Straits. Thus, Taipei Songshan prepares to take on a bigger role.

"In addition to the ongoing facelift project, a new cargo terminal will also be built to meet increasing market demand, especially after the opening of direct flights between the airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport next October," said Lee Lung-wen, director-general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration.

Under the newly revised Taiwan-Japan aviation agreement, Taiwan's China Airlines and Eva Airways each will operate two round-trip flights per day between Songshan Airport and Haneda Airport commencing October 2010. Two Japanese carriers - Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways - will also fly two round-trip flights daily, starting at the same time.

"As all those flights will be allowed to carry cargo, we need to build an international cargo terminal to facilitate delivery services," said Lee.

Lee said that the current domestic air cargo station at Songshan Airport will be relocated to make way for construction of the new international cargo terminal.

"Construction of the new cargo terminal is scheduled to be completed next March or April," Lee added.

Meanwhile, he said direct flight services between Songshan Airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport are likely to open after the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, as the two sides are scheduled to begin talks on the plan later this year.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 07/23/2009 page2)