Phoenix TV:

My question is for the Civil Aviation Administration. What are the arrangements for flights to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan during the Spring Festival travel rush? Is there going to be a significant increase? Thank you.

Wan Xiangdong:

Thank you for your questions. The Civil Aviation Administration has always cared for air routes to and from Hong Kong and Macao as well as cross-Strait flights and supported airlines in opening air routes and flights to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in accordance with the air transport arrangement between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao as well as the cross-Strait air transport agreement.

In 2022, the Civil Aviation Administration issued or renewed 16 Hong Kong air operating licenses and three Macao air operating licenses. As of Jan. 5, the Civil Aviation Administration had approved a plan for 13,230 passenger flights to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan during the Spring Festival travel rush, involving 186 air routes and 47 waypoints on the mainland. Twenty-eight airlines will arrange 2,331 passenger flights every week.

After Jan. 8, airlines will independently and dynamically optimize the arrangement for passenger flights to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan based on the same principles as international ones — safety first, market-oriented, and special needs prioritized. Take Shanghai Pudong International Airport as an example. According to the flight scheduling of various airlines operating at the airport, from Jan. 8 to 31, there will be 30 daily passenger flights to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan taking off or landing at the airport. Among them, 10 are Hong Kong flights, eight are Taiwan flights, and 12 are Macao flights, all showing a significant increase. As market demand increases over time, we believe the number of flights will increase further. Thank you.