Market Analysis: China-Taiwan

Diplomatic relations between China and Taiwan continue to improve. China Eastern, China Airlines and Eva Airlines launched flights between Songshan (TSA) in downtown Taipei and Shanghai Hongqiao on June 14. Shanghai Airlines followed suit the following day.

A Routes News analysis shows the increase in flights that has taken place between China and Taipei since 2007.

During 2007, there were just two carriers operating between China and Taiwan:

Carrier

Weekly Flights

Route Pairs

Uni Air

115

3

Mandarin Airlines

68

4

Total

183

7

Source: Flightbase 14-20 September 2007

The current schedule shows the growth that has taken place on cross-strait routes:

Carrier

Weekly Flights

Route Pairs

Uni Air

134

15

Mandarin Airlines

48

10

Eva Air

30

8

China Eastern Airlines

30

11

China Airlines

30

8

Air China

27

6

China Southern

27

11

Transasia Airways

20

8

Xiamen Airlines

11

4

Hainan Airlines

10

5

Shanghai Airlines

10

3

Shandong Airlines

7

3

Shenzhen Airlines

7

3

Sichuan Airlines

7

3

Total

398

98

Source: Flightbase, 14-20 September 2010

In the last three years the number of weekly flights on offer between the two countries has risen by 55% and there are now 14 carriers operating here.

IATA BSP data shows that between April 2009 and 2010, over 5.3 million passengers flew between China and Taiwan. China Airlines has had the market share (15%), followed by Uni Air (12%) and China Eastern (11%).

The leading five route pairs in terms of passenger numbers are:

City Pairs

Passenger Numbers (two-way April 09-10)

Shanghai (PVG) - Taipei (TPE)

1,356,239

Beijing-Taipei (TPE)

494,046

Guangzhou-Taipei (TPE)

297,518

Shenzhen-Taipei

279,583

Hangzhou-Taipei

276,398

Source: Airport IS, April 09-10.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…