China sends rules for charter flights

The Taipei Airlines Association confirmed yesterday that last week it received application instructions from Chinese authorities for Lunar New Year holiday charter flights, including a prohibition on "sensitive words" being used in documents.

"The rules that China proposed look feasible, but I don't know whether Chinese authorities will raise more restrictions later," said Su Hsien-jung (蘇賢榮), the association's secretary general.

Su said Taiwanese airlines which wish to run chartered flights to and from Shanghai for Tai-wanese businesspeople and their families have to file applications with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) 15 days ahead of the planned departure dates.

The instructions indicated that Taiwanese carriers do not have to attach any "official certificates and copies" to their applications, which is believed to be an attempt by Beijing to avoid a dispute over cross-strait document notarization.

International aviation rules require such document notarization procedures before charter flights can be operated, to ensure the qualification of the flight crews.

The Chinese instructions also stated that "sensitive words" are not allowed in the application materials, although it didn't specify what those words might be. It is believed that "sensitive words" refer to the name Republic of China.

According to the instructions, 13 pieces of documentation will be required, including the names of the owners and managers of airlines, lists of crewmembers and their duties, passenger name lists, operation dates, the number of flights and ticket prices.

A senior Straits Exchange Foundation official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that while China appears to have set "relatively easier" conditions for Taiwanese carriers to operate charters, "its preconditions ["one China"] still exist -- it just used more agile tactics to handle this matter."

The source said China's intention appears to be trying to make a breakthrough in transport links, not resolving the problems faced by businesspeople trying to return home for the holidays.

"There is a concern that China may end up allowing just a few charter flights to make symbolic trips and can't meet the needs of tens of thousands of businessmen who wish to benefit from such a service," the source said.

EVA Airways spokesman Nieh Kuo-wei (聶國維) said yesterday that there are no technical problems to charter flights but airlines will not be able to submit applications to Beijing until Taiwan announces its own requirements.