In the latest round of cross-strait aviation talks between mainland China and Taiwan, the countries have agreed to boost weekly cargo flights from 28 to 48.
While the number is itself important, the major step forward in this round has been an agreement to expand the number of all-cargo routes, acknowledging that they are of major benefit to the region’s booming trade.
Until now, freighter operations have been restricted to only two mainland airports, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou.
Under the expanded agreement, which comes into effect mid-June, freighters will also be able to fly to Nanjing, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Chongqing.
The boost in cargo operations has been greeted enthusiastically on both sides of the strait but is not quite as much as the Taiwanese negotiators had wanted.
However, passenger flights with limited belly hold cargo capability will grow from 270 to 370 weekly and two new regular routes will be added. These are between Taoyuan International in Taiwan and Shijiazhuang City in China’s Hebei Province, and between Taipei’s Songshan Airport and Shanghai’s Hongqiao.
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