Is There Still Hope for the Xi'an-to-Taoyuan Mid-Autumn Festival Charter Flight? Deputy Chairperson Liang Wen-je Offers Concession: Won't Make Things Difficult for 'Our People' if 'This Condition' is Met

James Shu-po Hsu, Chairman of the Commercial Association (Shang Zong), previously disclosed plans to apply for Mid-Autumn Festival charter flights from Xi'an and Kunming to Taiwan, to be operated by China Eastern Airlines. However, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated on August 19 that Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) had rejected the charter application.

In response, David Liang, Deputy Chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), explained during a press conference on August 20 that charter applications are only permitted within seven days before and after the three major festivals: Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. The submitted application date of August 21 was too far from this year's Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25, falling closer to the Ghost Festival, and thus outside the eligible period.

Liang emphasized that the CAA hopes the airline will adjust the flight date to fall between September 18 and October 2, the official Mid-Autumn charter window. He stated, "On August 21, it's more aligned with the Ghost Festival—still quite distant from Mid-Autumn. Charter flights are meant to assist Taiwanese businesspeople. As long as regulations are met, we won't make things difficult for our own people."

Meanwhile, Zhu Fenglian of the Taiwan Affairs Office noted at a regular press briefing on August 19 that the charter flight from Xi'an to Taoyuan had been rejected by Taiwan authorities. The Civil Aviation Administration of China had accepted China Eastern Airlines' application, but Taiwan's aviation authorities rejected it, citing it was outside the designated holiday charter period.

The Taiwan Affairs Office criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, stating that despite claims of opening charter points, the application conditions remain excessively strict, making them "visible but unattainable, let alone usable" for the public and industry. It urged the DPP to face the real demand for restoring direct air travel, follow public sentiment, and promptly lift unreasonable restrictions to reopen a smooth, convenient, and efficient air corridor for cross-strait people.

Hsu revealed he had coordinated with MAC Chairperson Joseph Chiu to gradually restore direct air links, starting with charter flights for mainland Chinese cities currently lacking direct routes to Taiwan. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to expand cross-strait connectivity, though administrative and political hurdles remain evident.