Cross-Strait flights come as a boon for Taiwanese, Chinese carriers

Taipei: The recent opening of cross-Straits services for Taiwanese and mainland carriers has come as a boon, certainly for Taiwanese carriers, as flights-carriers are operating these services with an average load factor of 87%.

Airlines on both sides of the Taiwan Strait carried 95,765 passengers both ways with an average load factor of 87% over the seven weeks ended 18 August, according to Taiwanese authorities.

Taiwan civil aviation chief, Li Long Wen, said last week that cross-Strait routes are among the few profitable services currently being operated by Taiwanese carriers.

According to data, the Shanghai route reported the highest load factor at 92.3%, followed by 85.4% for Xiamen, 82.8% for Guangzhou, 78.7% for Beijing and 77.3% for Nanjing.

Strong response on the Shanghai route has prompted China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air to boost business class fares on the route to CNY6,500 from CNY5,500.