Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Eva Cheng said Thursday that
the new memorandum of understanding on the aviation market between
China's Hong Kong and the mainland is a significant new
arrangement.
"It will further strengthen the aviation link between the
mainland and Hong Kong as more airlines can be designated to
operate services. The new arrangement is significant as capacity
restrictions are further eliminated, achieving full liberalization
for all-cargo services with effect from the end of October 2008,"
Cheng said.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and the
Transport and Housing Bureau of the HKSAR have completed the latest
round of consultations on the Mainland/HKSAR Air Services
Arrangement recently. They also decided to further liberalize the
aviation market between Hong Kong and the mainland by signing the
new memorandum of understanding.
"The new memorandum of understanding will also enhance the
competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport and
strengthen the status of Hong Kong as an international and regional
aviation hub."
On operating rights on individual routes, starting from the end
of March 2008, there will not be any restriction on the number of
designated airlines on most of the routes. As for the Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Dalian and Chengdu routes,
each side may designate three airlines to operate
passenger/all-cargo services and two other airlines for all-cargo
services with effect from summer/autumn 2008.
As regards capacity, the two sides decided to further eliminate
capacity restrictions. For passenger services, the frequency limit
for 14 routes will be lifted starting from summer or autumn 2008,
so that airlines of both sides can operate without any capacity
restriction on a total of 49 routes. As for the Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Dalian and Chengdu routes, the
capacity will be increased moderately.
For all-cargo services, the present capacity limit, which only
applies to the Beijing and Shanghai routes, will be completely
lifted starting from the end of October 2008, achieving full
liberalization for all-cargo services.
(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)
