Source: ATW Daily News Author: Katie Cantle 08/25/2008
Subject Concerned: Airlines
Airlines on both sides of the Taiwan Strait carried 95,765 passengers across the strait with an average load factor of 87% over the seven weeks ended on Aug. 18, according to Taiwan authorities.
Taiwan Civil Aviation Chief Li Long Wen told media last week that cross-strait routes are among the few profitable services operated by Taiwan-based carriers.
The Shanghai route reported the highest load factor at 92.3%, followed by 85.4% for Xiamen, 82.8% for Guangzhou, 78.7% for Beijing and 77.3% for Nanjing.
Owing to the strong traffic to Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air have raised the Business Class fare on the route to 6,500 yuan from 5,500 yuan.