TAIPEI: The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) confirmed yesterday that regularly scheduled direct cross-Straits flights will begin on August 31.

The date was the one preferred by mainland authorities. It was reported on June 23 that, while Taiwan's Civil Aviation Authority had no objection to the date, the agency hoped the inauguration of regularly scheduled flights could be moved forward. Mainland authorities were quoted at the time by CAA Air Transport Division director Yeh Yung-ching, however, as saying that preparations could not be completed prior to August 31, since the issue required further discussion.

The agreement to exchange regular flight service was reached between the mainland and Taiwan at the third round of cross-Straits talks held in Nanjing on April 26.

The agreement allows for 270 regular flights per week between the mainland and Taiwan, a big increase compared to the existing 108 charter flights permitted each week. In addition, the mainland has agreed to open up six more destinations to Taiwan-based carriers, bringing to 27 the total number of mainland destinations served by the flights.

Since the inauguration of the daily chartered flights last December, they have enjoyed great popularity due to high demand, but have also received severe criticism for the high prices charged by various carriers operating the routes. With the advent of regular direct flights, the government hopes airfares will become less expensive and, already, carriers on both sides of the Straits have begun cutting fares in anticipation of the imminent opening.

According to the CAA, there are charter flights across the Taiwan Straits on a daily basis under the current arrangement, and passenger occupancy has risen from 60 percent to 70 percent when it was first implemented to over 80 percent between the 13th and 24th week. The figure fell to 76.7 percent at the onset of the recent A (H1N1) flu epidemic, and now has since shown a recovery to more than 78.8 percent.

(HK Edition 08/11/2009 page2)