Three European countries have agreed to grant "temporary operations permits" to Taiwanese carriers for the direct transportation of passengers and cargo, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA, 民航局) said yesterday.
Denmark, the Czech Republic and Spain will not, however, be signing official air pacts with Taiwan at this stage out of concern of attracting possible opposition from China, sources revealed. The CAA is inclined toward opening direct flights to these countries only after formal air pacts are signed.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands has agreed to let Taiwanese carriers increase cargo flights to Amsterdam from Oct. 29, the CAA said.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA,
Currently all four countries recognize China, while maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.
Spain, the Czech Republic and Denmark, which do not have formal aviation agreements with Taiwan, have agreed to grant temporary operations permits to Taiwanese carriers. They are willing to grant third and fourth freedom rights to allow direct passenger and cargo flights to and from Taiwan.
After gaining such promises, local carriers interested in opening new routes will be able to apply for permission from these countries for direct flights, after having first gained the approval of the CAA.
However, as they do not have formal ties with Taiwan, these three countries said in order to avoid Chinese protests they would not be signing official aviation agreements, sources revealed.
The temporary operations permits proposed by the three countries, according to Chang, could be suspended at any time without the restraints of official aviation agreements. Therefore, Chang said, the CAA hopes local carriers can hold off opening direct flights -- for passengers at least -- to these three nations until official air pacts are signed.
The CAA said they so far have not issued permits for passenger transportation, because local consumers' rights cannot be guaranteed without formal air pacts being signed, especially when there is a danger China may meddle in the process.
"A major diplomatic breakthrough must be achieved first before we can proceed with formal air pacts," Chang noted.
Moreover, as the three countries have not promised to give fifth freedom rights to Taiwan to allow the extension of flights to third country destinations, Chang remarked that their offer of issuing temporary operations permits "had more symbolic meaning than substantial effect."
Meanwhile, two additional cargo flights a week to Amsterdam will begin Oct. 29.
Either China Airlines (CAL, 中華航空) or EVA Air (長榮航空) will be operating the new flights, Chang said.
The two Taiwanese carriers are currently responsible for cargo flights to the Netherlands, with CAL flying eight times a week to Amsterdam and EVA three times a week.
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