Successful indirect flights from Shanghai to Taiwan by two
chartered planes of Taiwanese airlines have raised hopes that
direct flights between the mainland and the island can be
kick-started.
The distance between Shanghai and Taipei is about 1,000 kilometers
and the direct flying time is just one hour and fifteen
minutes.
But it took more than four hours for the China Airlines chartered
plane to fly from Shanghai to Taipei on Sunday because of a
stopover in Hong Kong, said Xia Xinghua, director-general of the
East China Regional Administration of Civil Aviation of China.
Ye
Yigan, chairman of the China Eastern Air
Group, said the chartered flights cannot eradicate the
inconvenience to Taiwan compatriots crossing the Taiwan
Straits.
Both Xia and Ye agreed that only direct flights could benefit
people on the mainland and in Taiwan.
In
an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Chang Hsiao-yen said the
chartered flights saved neither time nor money.
Chang said mainland companies should also take part in arranging
chartered flights to ensure business is shared fairly.
Chang added the success of the chartered flights has enhanced
co-operation between the two sides and has laid solid groundwork
for the realization of direct flights.
The chartered flights on Sunday and those over following days
during Spring Festival holiday are only run by Taiwanese
airlines.
(China Daily January 28, 2003)