Source: United Daily News

19 January, 2018

 

The cross-Strait dispute over Flight Route M503 reached another level. Following the Mainland-based Taiwan Affairs Office’s statement that the use of Flight Route M503 did not require Taiwan’s consent, the Civil Aeronautics Administration yesterday confirmed that it would deny permits for added flights for the Chinese New Year’s period from Mainland airlines which started operating via Flight Route M503. Such a move would thus impact air transportation over the Chinese New Year’s holidays.

 

Sources indicated that a total of 176 flights from both China Eastern Airlines as well as Xiamen Airlines would be affected, and it was estimated that roughly 50,000 travelers who intended to travel over the Chinese New Year’s would be impacted as a result. Scholars raised concerns that Taiwanese businessmen would be the first group to suffer the consequences of the cancelled flights over the Chinese New Year’s period, as it would be harder to secure flight tickets. Moreover, there were also concerns of a vengeful backlash on national airlines like the Taiwan-based China Airlines and EVA Air. 

 

Personnel working in the airline industry commented that “cross-Strait flights account for only 1-2% of the revenue for Mainland airlines, while for Taiwanese airlines, they account for 10-20%. If this issue is allowed to careen out of control, and the Mainland might also cancel added flights from Taiwanese airlines, it is clear which side would come out the biggest loser.” Taiwanese businessmen pointed out that in the past, air tickets over the Chinese New Year’s holidays had already been hard to come by, and the worsening circumstances this year would only make it even more so, with many left only with the hopes that there would be added flights or switch to transport by sea.