China sent a letter to fully restore direct flights, Civil Aeronautics Administration: Message received
China has sent a letter urging the full restoration of cross-strait passenger direct flights. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration confirmed receipt, noting current flights have spare capacity to increase based on market demand.
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- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 16:08
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 16:31 (22 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 00:45 (56h 13m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Qiaowen, Taipei, 16th) Media reported that China's Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council sent a letter through channels urging the prompt and full restoration of passenger direct flights. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said today that it has received the message. Currently, 15 regular flight destinations are allowed 420 flights per week, with an actual 310 flights operating; there is spare capacity to increase flights based on demand.
China recently announced 10 Taiwan-related measures, one of which includes promoting the full normalization of cross-strait direct flights. Media reported that China's "Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council" stated yesterday that it had sent another letter via the Taipei Airlines Association contact channel, calling for the prompt full restoration of cross-strait passenger direct flights. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Civil Aeronautics Administration responded in writing: "Message received."
The CAA stated that the current execution of cross-strait flights is in good condition. 15 regular flight destinations are open, capable of flying 420 flights per week. The actual operation is about 310 flights per week, meaning there is still spare capacity to increase flights according to travel demand.
The CAA pointed out that among the feasible flights, 13 Shanghai flights cannot be operated because the mainland has delayed providing suitable slot times. In addition, for 13 charter flight destinations like Xi'an, airlines can apply to operate charter flights during festivals, but as of now, no operators have applied.
The CAA stated that current flight operations meet market demand, and it will continue to observe market needs to arrange flights subsequently.
Separately, Lee Chi-yueh, Chairman of the Travel Quality Assurance Association, explained via a video that last year, Taiwanese outbound travel to mainland China was about 3.3 million visits, making it the second-largest outbound destination. Currently, only 14 cities and 15 destinations are open across the strait, and the load factor of existing flights is high. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic when cross-strait routes had over 50 destinations, "the current number of destinations is indeed insufficient."
Lee Chi-yueh expressed that the tourism industry hopes the government can open up destinations as much as possible, allowing market mechanisms to operate on their own. "Whether airlines have business or not, they will evaluate it themselves." (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150416
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Qiaowen, Taipei, 16th) Media reported that China's Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council sent a letter through channels urging the prompt and full restoration of passenger direct flights. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said today that it has received the message. Currently, 15 regular flight destinations are allowed 420 flights per week, with an actual 310 flights operating; there is spare capacity to increase flights based on demand.
China recently announced 10 Taiwan-related measures, one of which includes promoting the full normalization of cross-strait direct flights. Media reported that China's "Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council" stated yesterday that it had sent another letter via the Taipei Airlines Association contact channel, calling for the prompt full restoration of cross-strait passenger direct flights. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Civil Aeronautics Administration responded in writing: "Message received."
The CAA stated that the current execution of cross-strait flights is in good condition. 15 regular flight destinations are open, capable of flying 420 flights per week. The actual operation is about 310 flights per week, meaning there is still spare capacity to increase flights according to travel demand.
The CAA pointed out that among the feasible flights, 13 Shanghai flights cannot be operated because the mainland has delayed providing suitable slot times. In addition, for 13 charter flight destinations like Xi'an, airlines can apply to operate charter flights during festivals, but as of now, no operators have applied.
The CAA stated that current flight operations meet market demand, and it will continue to observe market needs to arrange flights subsequently.
Separately, Lee Chi-yueh, Chairman of the Travel Quality Assurance Association, explained via a video that last year, Taiwanese outbound travel to mainland China was about 3.3 million visits, making it the second-largest outbound destination. Currently, only 14 cities and 15 destinations are open across the strait, and the load factor of existing flights is high. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic when cross-strait routes had over 50 destinations, "the current number of destinations is indeed insufficient."
Lee Chi-yueh expressed that the tourism industry hopes the government can open up destinations as much as possible, allowing market mechanisms to operate on their own. "Whether airlines have business or not, they will evaluate it themselves." (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150416
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The text, images, audio, and video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.