Taiwan Rejects China's Call to Resume More Flights, Citing Lack of Market Incentive

(CNA, Taipei, May 21, by reporter Li Ya-wen) China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has called for the resumption of cross-strait flights to cities including Urumqi, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) responded today, stating that there is currently no significant demand and a lack of market incentive. The Mainland Affairs Council held its regular press conference this afternoon, chaired by Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh. Yesterday, TAO spokesperson Zhu Fenglian announced that China Eastern Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Shandong Airlines plan to resume direct flights from Chengdu to Taichung, Ningbo to Kaohsiung, and Qingdao to Taichung, respectively, starting in July. Zhu urged, "We hope the Taiwan side will follow the will of the people and resume cross-strait flights to cities like Urumqi, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou as soon as possible, and subsequently lift all unreasonable restrictions on cross-strait air transport, allowing airlines on both sides to arrange flight schedules independently based on market demand." Liang Wen-chieh responded that Chengdu, Ningbo, and Qingdao are already established direct flight points. The TAO now wishes to add routes from Chengdu to Taichung, Ningbo to Kaohsiung, and Qingdao to Taichung. According to his understanding, the Civil Aeronautics Administration has approved the first two, while the Qingdao-Taichung route is still under review. Liang stated that the destinations mentioned by the TAO—Urumqi, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou—are all tourist spots. However, based on assessments, there is currently no significant demand and no market incentive. The government will not require airlines to "force flights" under unprofitable conditions. He added that among the 15 currently open flight points, several do not meet market demand, such as Ningbo, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, and Qingdao. Liang reiterated that regarding the opening for Chinese tour groups, the government hopes for prior negotiations through the cross-strait tourism bodies (Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association) and hopes the other side will respond to this request soon. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju)