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.