Taiwan and Japan amended a bilateral aviation agreement Nov. 10, granting respective fifth freedom rights and greenlighting additional services between the countries.
The changes, which take effect immediately, were signed by Peng Run-tsu, chairman of Taipei’s Association of East Asian Relations, and his Japanese counterpart Mitsuo Ohashi of the Interchange Association.
“This encouraging development represents a significant step forward in efforts to finalize an open skies agreement between Taiwan and Japan,” a Civil Aeronautics Administration official said.
“It will certainly make cross-border travel and transportation more convenient while further promoting two-way trade and exchanges.”
Under the agreement, fifth freedom rights allow airlines from Taiwan and Japan to pick up and drop off passengers and cargo in each other’s airports, with the exception of Tokyo, en route to a third destination. There are no restrictions on the number of flights scheduled by either nation.
“This change is a real boon for both sides’ carriers,” the official said, adding that at present, flights originating from Taiwan bound for Tokyo can only extend their services to Honolulu.
The pact clears the way for local airlines to offer an extra two scheduled round-trip passenger flights and four cargo flights per week from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Narita Airport.
The limit on the number of flights will be lifted in 2013 when the annual capacity of Narita Airport is expanded to 270,000 flights.
Carriers from both nations can also offer up to seven round-trip redeye flights each week between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and all of Taiwan’s airports except Songshan.
Sources familiar with the matter describe the agreement as yet another improvement in Taiwan-Japan relations following the inking in September of the landmark investment liberalization, promotion and protection arrangement. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw