Only one week after the resumption of air links between Taiwan and the Philippines, an official at China Airlines (CAL) confirmed on Saturday that the airline will suspend its Manila-Kaohsiung flight service at the request of the Manila government, beginning today.
A CAL official yesterday told local media that the Philippines civil aviation authorities had asked the carrier to suspend its Kaohsiung-Manila flight services after a temporary agreement to fly the route expires on Feb. 20.
He said the suspension may only be temporary, adding that it will be lifted as soon as the two countries reach a new agreement.
In response, an official at the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (
After four months of suspension, Philippine Airlines is set to recommence its Taipei-Manila flight service today, following EVA Air and CAL's resumption of service one week ago.
The Philippines cancelled a 1996 air accord with Taiwan last October over claims that CAL and EVA Air, were luring passengers with lower air fares that allowed Taiwan carriers to pick up passengers in Manila and take them to a third destination by way of Taipei.
After cutting off air links for four months, the two countries sealed an agreement to resume flight service on Jan. 28.
According to the agreement, Taiwan agreed to halve its maximum weekly passenger traffic to 4,800 on the Taipei-Manila route.
In addition to the 4,800-seat quota for the Taipei-Manila route, the new accord also allows Taiwan's carriers to transport an additional 1,000 passengers per week between Kaohsiung and Manila on a temporary basis.
In CAL's view, the 4,800-seat ceiling does not cover the passenger volume on the Kaohsiung-Manila route. Philippine civil aviation authorities, however, think the 1,000 seats should be included in the 4,800-seat quota.
The Philippines government plans to send its officials to Taiwan tomorrow to discuss the issue.
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