cross-strait aviation dispute

The Civil Aeronautics Administration is pushing back against Chinese claims
that Taipei has been blocking carrier applications for new cross-strait
routes.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said yesterday that some carriers had applied
to add cross-strait flights but were discouraged and turned away.

The C-A-A said today that all carrier applications for scheduled flights have
been approved, with Chinese-registered airlines currently operating 197
flights per week, a utilization rate of over 94 percent.

The agency says no charter flight applications have been received since March
2023, and that inquiring carriers have been given clear guidance on how to
apply during holiday periods.

The C-A-A says China's accusations are unverified and irresponsible, and that
Beijing's unilateral suspension of cross-strait negotiations on political
grounds is the real source of disruption to normal aviation ties.

Post-pandemic, Taiwan has opened 15 scheduled direct cross-strait routes at
up to 420 flights per week, along with 13 charter routes.

(PB)