Taiwan's international air carriers are considering applying for permission from the government to fly through Chinese airspace after lawmakers last week agreed to allow such a move.
Alex Shih (施建華), secretary-general of the Taipei Airline Association (台北市航空運輸協會), which represents all six Taiwan-based air carriers, told the Taipei Times that the group hadn't yet made a decision on whether to apply and was still examining the financial and technical aspects of the proposal.
"If our airlines can fly over China, they can save a lot of money and time," Shih said.
Paul Wang (
Wang said China Airlines would be likely to use the new route if the government approved, but said it would leave negotiations with the government over the matter would be done by the Taipei Airlines Association.
The association is scheduled to meet with government officials on Friday to discuss the proposal, Wang said.
Taiwan's airlines are forbidden by the government to pass through Chinese airspace.
A Beijing aviation official earlier this month told visiting airline executives from Taiwan that they would be willing to discuss permitting Taiwanese flyovers following additional discussions between various parties.
China made the offer to allow airlines to avoid the airspace over Central Asia, where the US military is leading colition forces in operations against the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan.
But Beijing officials maintained talks would still have to be conducted under the "one China" principle, a condition unacceptable to Taiwan's democratic government.
Officials in Taipei aren't keen on the proposal.
The Mainland Affairs Council said that overflights would require bilateral discussions between Taiwan and China and that a final decision could only be made by the government.
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