New Year's charter flights to China approved

Both China and Taiwan in quick succession yesterday granted their first approval of an application to operate charter flights between Taipei and Shanghai for China-based Taiwanese businessmen and their families at the Lunar New Year.

The approvals were granted to Taiwan's Far Eastern Air Transport Corp (FAT), which will provide six round-trip runs on Jan. 27, 28 and 29 and Feb. 5, 6 and 7.

This development, coupled with observations of past Chinese diplomatic behavior, prompted hopes yesterday that applications of Taiwan's remaining five airlines will be approved within a week.

China Airlines, which proposes to run its first flight on Jan. 26, would be flying its first civil airliner in Chinese airspace since 1949.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and FAT notified reporters simultaneously at 6pm yesterday that China had approved FAT's application and that Taiwan had followed suit.

Reporters were not advised of either the precise time or the means of communication of the CAAC's approval, but they were informed that the CAAC had communicated direct with FAT, which had relayed news of the approval to the MAC.

The CAAC's approval came just two days after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) called on China to negotiate direct cross-strait transportation links in his New Year's speech on Wednesday. China's swift approval of FAT's application was interpreted by reporters yesterday as a positive response to Chen's remarks.

The Vice Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) told reporters yesterday evening that the government welcomed the development.

"We are glad that the difficulties over Taiwanese businessmen's return home are to be smoothly resolved," he said.

He added that such goodwill between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait offered the hope of a possibility of cross-strait talks resuming this year.

Benny Tsao (曹冰瑩), the spokesman for FAT told the Taipei Times that the company is glad to have an opportunity to provide a service for China-based Taiwanese businessmen and their families.

The Straits Exchange Foundation, said yesterday that some 1,500 Taiwanese businessmen and members of their families have registered for tickets.

FAT said it will negotiate ticket prices with Taiwanese businessmen's association in Shanghai.

The indirect charter flights will make brief stopovers in either Hong Kong or Macau.

FAT says it will operate Boeing-757 aircraft, which has a capacity of 175 passengers.

As of press time last night, the Chinese authorities had not commented on the matter.

Meanwhile, Eva Airways (Eva) said yesterday that it had submitted its application to China on Thursday.

Eva plans to fly an empty Boeing B747-400 to Shanghai on Jan. 26 and fly passengers back to Taipei on the same day, said Nieh Kuo-wei (聶國維), Eva's spokesman.

"Eva would take the passengers back to Shanghai on Feb. 8 and return to Taipei with an empty plane," he said, adding that the flight schedule is subject to adjustments, pending final approval.