More capacity on the Taiwan-Australia air route is expected by October, two reports said yesterday, quoting Australian Transport Minister Warren Truss.
Air service capacity would increase from 4,000 seats a week to 5,000 by October this year, Australia's Associated Press office reported yesterday, citing Truss. The figure would further increase to 6,000 seats a week by October next year, he added.
Truss was expected to make the announcement yesterday in a significant liberalization of air services between the two countries, the Australian reported yesterday.
Currently, Australia restricts flights to four airports: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. But under the new agreement, capacity and frequency restrictions between Taiwan and other Australian airports are expected to be lifted, the reports said.
"These arrangements are in line with the Australian Government's policy of seeking aviation arrangements that provide capacity ahead of demand," Truss said in a statement.
The new deal came after an agreement was reached between Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, the Australian branch of Associated Press reported, without saying when the agreement was signed.
China Airlines Ltd (華航), the nation's largest air carrier, currently runs three weekly A340-300s to Brisbane and four A340-300 services to Sydney.
Its closest rival, EVA Airways Corp (長榮), operates three weekly Airbus A330-200 services to Brisbane.
No Australian carriers fly to Taiwan.
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