Taiwanese carriers seeking additional services to Mainland China; 3 million cross-Strait pax in 2009

China and Taiwan conducted a Cross-Strait Aviation Forum on 16-Mar-2010, with the following details discussed (Taiwan News/Xinhua/Taipei Times, 17-Mar-2010):

• Taiwan seeking additional services to second tier Mainland destinations: Taipei Airlines Association stated Taiwanese carriers are seeking additional services to Mainland second-tier destinations, in addition to first-tier cities. Passenger flows in cities including Chengdu, Kunming and Tianjin have been "considerable", with not enough capacity on the sectors to meet demand levels. China Air Transport Association (CATA) added that direct services between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan could be expanded at some major Mainland cities;
• China airport allocation: CAAC Vice Minister, Xia Xinghua, added that 31 airports have been opened to the Taiwanese airlines, of which several, including Taitung and Hualien, have yet to be served;
• Passenger traffic: Mr Xia stated Mainland airlines transported 1.2 million Taiwanese passengers to Taiwan in 2009, with Taiwanese airlines handling 1.8 million passengers in the period. Separately, CATA stated 3.9 million passengers travelled on direct cross-Strait services between 31-Dec-2008 and 28-Feb-2010, of which Mainland carriers transported approximately 1.55 million passengers. Load factors averaged approximately 77% over the period, with cargo volumes of approximately 85,386 tons;
• Airworthiness certificates: Taiwanese carriers urged civil aviation authorities to resolve outstanding issues on airworthiness certification for cross-Strait services. The carriers added that as Taiwan has yet to acknowledge the validity of airworthiness certifications issued by the CAAC and vice versa, they are required to fly their own staff to the Mainland to certify the airworthiness of each aircraft;
• Allocation complaints: Mr Xia rejected complaints from Taiwanese airlines that additional Lunar New Year Holiday services were disproportionately awarded to Mainland airlines;
• World Expo Shanghai: Additional cross-Strait capacity may be added for the World Expo Shanghai period, although no further details were provided.