China’s Xiamen International Airport Group Co. Ltd. said recently it was eyeing partnerships with Taiwan carriers amid hopes that the two sides would soon establish regular weekly flights.
The airport, located in southeast China’s Fujian province on the Taiwan Strait, is looking at various options, including transforming itself into an air cargo hub for flights to Taiwan, according to an AFP report.
Although no firm negotiations were underway the state-owned airport has been handling charter flights between Taiwan and the mainland for a number of years.
The incoming government of Taiwan president-elect Ma Ying-jeou is eyeing 4 July for the start of the first regular direct charter flights since China and Taiwan split at the end of the civil war in 1949.
Currently, only holiday services are allowed on passenger charter flights, and cargo flights are conducted on a case-by-case basis. Xiamen International Airport is a conglomerate affiliated with the Xiamen municipal government. Ma won March presidential elections in Taiwan partly on a promise to improve ties with China.