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15-Jun-2010 8:45 AM

Cross-Strait services between Taipei Sungshan and Shanghai Hongqiao launched on 14-Jun-2010

Cross-Strait services between Taipei Songshan Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport were launched on 14-Jun-2010, marking the commencement of regular services on the new cross-Strait route - see Route Changes Table for more information (Shanghai Daily/Xinhau/Taiwan News, 15-Jun-2010). There will be 28 weekly services on the route, with airlines from the mainland operating 14 weekly services and Taiwanese carriers also operating 14 weekly services on the 1 hour 45 minute sector. The flight time is more than an hour shorter than the flight between Shanghai Pudong and Taipei Taoyuan. Services will be provided by China Eastern Airlines, China Airlines, TransAsia Airways and EVA Air. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Consumers' Foundation has criticised airlines over the cost of fares on the route, which are currently priced at over TWD16,000 (USD500). The airlines commented that fares are high on the route due to high demand and low supply, adding that capacity needs to at least double to meet demand.

EVA Air stated (14-Jun-2010) its new six times weekly service on the route complements its current nine flights a week between Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The route will initially be served with 152-seat MD-90 equipment, although the carrier plans to increase capacity with 252-seat A330-200 equipment in Oct-2010, after Sungshan Airport's has completed expansion work. The increased service and existing operations to Shanghai Pudong, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Ningbo, give EVA and its UNI Air subsidiary a total of 34 weekly to the Yangtze River region. With its operations throughout China, the airline serves the nation's 17 major cities with 77 weekly services on 28 routes. [more - EVA Air]

China Airlines stated (14-Jun-2010) it would, in the initial stage, operate the service with 158-seat B737-800 aircraft, although A330-300 equipment will be used when Songshan Airport completed its reconstruction. The China Airlines Group, including China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines, operates to 13 destinations in mainland China including Shenyang, Beijing, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xian and Chengdu. [more - China Airlines]

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