Uncertainty over HK airlines getting a slice of the action

As Taiwan and the mainland sealed a deal on the introduction of weekend charter flights, and eventually direct flights throughout the week, it remained unclear whether Hong Kong's airlines would be able to seize a slice of the pie.

In the memorandum on cross-strait charter flight negotiations signed by Chen Yunlin of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait and Chiang Pin-kung of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation yesterday, the two sides agreed that 'each side would appoint flight operators at an equal number'.

Hong Kong has for decades been the transit stop for up to 70 per cent of Taiwanese residents travelling back and forth to the mainland. There have been direct flights in recent years only during festivals. The introduction of weekend charter flights next month will change all that.

It is expected that six airlines from each side will negotiate for the initial 36 return flights a week - and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific and Dragonair are not on the list.

Arats executive vice-chairman Sun Yafu did not respond when asked yesterday whether Hong Kong airlines would be able to join negotiations in the future as the number of charter flights increased.

Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Shanghai Airlines from the mainland side now provide 'festival charter flights'.