Taiwanese airlines told to expand fleets
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Taiwanese airlines have been told to expand their fleets in preparation for a wave of mainland tourists. Taiwan’s Transportation and Communications Minister Mao Chikuo recommended that airlines buy now as the number of mainland travellers is set to double from five to ten million within three years.
While the demand will be captured predominately by EVA Air and China Airlines, reports the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), some of the nation’s smaller carriers are also targeting rapid expansion in the months and years ahead, looking at cross-Strait and near-international routes.
China Airlines (CAL) and EVA Air are responding to the expected surge in demand. CAL plans to expand its fleet from 68 to more than 100 aircraft in the next five to 10 years, while EVA Air aims to add 20 aircraft to its fleet of 50, however, the smaller airlines are not to be left out.
TranAsia recently brought on a new American investor and now plans to push growth in passenger aviation. TransAsia Airways Chairman Vincent Lin told the China Times that the carrier hopes to operate to all major cities in the Asia Pacific region including Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta and Tokyo within the next five years. The carrier also hopes to operate to cities within nine hours reach including those in Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. The airline is scheduled to receive two 313-seat A330 aircraft between 2012 and 2013, which it hopes to use in operations to Sydney, Guam and Eastern Europe. In response to growing cross-straits traffic, the airline plans to launch five new mainland routes from November.
UNI Air is also expanding operations, having recently announced plans to add 10 ATRs to its fleet. Thee will replace old aircraft on routes to the offshore islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait. The carrier will acquire more ATR 72-600 aircraft depending on the demand for its local and China routes.
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