Authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan have signed an Air Services Arrangement (ASA) in a bid to promote the further development of air services between the two destinations.
The pact will reportedly increase direct flights between both sides from 340 to 410 per week (see story here). As part of the arrangement, no limits are set on the number of airlines to be designated by both sides. This facilitates the entrance of new airlines into the market. Airlines from both sides may also form codeshare arrangements between Hong Kong and Taiwan, or between points in Taiwan.
In addition, passenger capacity will be increased by 28 flights per week for each side with immediate effect. An additional seven flights per week will be added for both sides with effect from the 2012 IATA summer schedule.
Cathay Pacific welcomes this new pact. “We are glad to see the signing of the air services arrangement between the two sides. We are also encouraged that more flights will be made available between Hong Kong and Taiwan when the ASA becomes effective. Cathay Pacific currently operates 108 flights weekly to Taipei and we are always interested to operate more flights to Taipei and other destinations in Taiwan,” said a spokesperson from Cathay.
Sister airline Dragonair, who operates three daily flights to Taipei and six daily flights to the city of Kaohsiung, expresses the same sentiments. According to a statement released by Dragonair, the airline believes this new arrangement will allow room to increase flights, capacity and destinations, and encourage and stimulate traffic between both Hong Kong and Taiwan.
For more information, visit www.gov.hk
Tiffany Sandrasageran
