23-Dec-2009 9:00 AM
Taiwan and Japan sign aviation agreement to allow Songshan-Haneda services
Taiwan and Japan recently signed (21-Dec-2009) an aviation agreement. Details include:
- Direct flights between Taipei Songshan Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. China Airlines, EVA Air, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways to each provide two daily charter services, effective Oct-2010;
- Fifth Freedom Rights: Taiwan carriers may pick up passengers from Osaka and Nagoya to seven destinations in Europe and the US. Japanese carriers may carry passengers and cargo from Taiwan to seven destinations in Southeast Asia;
- Designation: The agreement also allows one more carrier from each side to operate the Taipei-Okinawa route, which is now operated by Japan Airlines and China Airlines.
The runway expansion project at Songshan Airport is expected to be completed at the end of Sep-2010, while the mini cargo terminal at the airport is also slated to be officially operational in the same month, with daily loading capacity of approximately 50 tons. [more]