Legislators yesterday urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to address the issue of the fifth freedom of the air for cross-strait flights in negotiations with China over an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).
The fifth freedom of the air would allow Taiwanese carriers to fly on to other nations after arriving at airports in China, and vice versa.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Yang Li-huan (楊麗環) and Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) suggested that the ministry take the opportunity presented by ECFA talks to discuss the matter.
Chu said Taiwan and China had failed to reach a consensus on the fifth freedom at previous cross-strait talks because if China agrees to the fifth freedom, it could risk Chinese carriers losing some customers to their Taiwanese counterparts.
MOTC Deputy Minister Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) said the ministry could make policy suggestions to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and recommend that it list the issue on the agenda for talks with Chinese officials if “it is in the best interest of Taiwan.”
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津), on the other hand, said that the ministry should work to gain observer status for Taiwan in the UN International Civil Aviation Organization.
The proposals were put forward at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee to review the Civil Aeronautics Administration’s (CAA) budget for the 2010 fiscal year.
Aside from the matter of cross-strait flights, some legislators also criticized the CAA for what they said was a lackluster performance by Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
A report by Airports Council International (ACI) ranked the airport 18th in the Asia-Pacific region last year in terms of flight passenger volume, down from 14th in 2007.
Lawmakers said there were shortcomings in the airport’s infrastructure. They also suggested that the MOTC dismiss flight control personnel at airports that have relatively low usage rates.
DPP Legislator Kuo Wen-chen (郭玟成) said some airports, such as Pingtung’s, have a usage rate of about 1 percent since the launch of the high-speed rail.
Yeh Kuang-shih said the ministry would review the operations of all airports nationwide.
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