JAA to raise Taipei flights

JAA to raise Taipei flights

HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Taiwan has decided in principle to accept Japan's request to increase by 40 the number of annual charter flights by Japan Asia Airways (JAA) to Taipei, Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported Saturday, according to the Kyodo News Service.

Japan's Transport Ministry had informally asked Taipei for the flight increase by JAA, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JAL), through the Interchange Association, which represents Japan's interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the agency said, Kyodo reports.

This is the first time Japan has sought an increase in flights to Taiwan, it said, according to Kyodo.

The agency said the Japanese ministry will make an official request at upcoming aviation talks with Taipei, the report said.

Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration plans to accept the request in exchange for Japan's approval of a corresponding increase in the number of Taiwanese charter flights to Japan, now totaling 700 a year, it said, according to Kyodo.