Summary
Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said Thursday that the Cabinet deeply regretted Pakistan's brief closure of its a…
What this means for you
For Chinese readers in the US who use China Airlines or EVA Air, the article reports that Pakistan barred the two carriers from its airspace since Oct. 25 and then reversed the policy later Wednesday, granting access from Wednesday through March 27 next year, according to Pakistani media reports. A Ministry of Transportation and Communications official said the access period coincided with the International Air Transport Association's winter schedule and that an application for continued access would be filed for the summer schedule that follows. The same official added that the ministry will remain in close contact with the airlines about any changes in airspace access. The article does not specify which routes or passengers are affected, so readers should treat the reported access period as the only concrete travel-related detail in the story.
Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said Thursday that the Cabinet deeply regretted Pakistan's brief closure of its airspace to Taiwanese airlines, a move Pakistan's defense minister said followed a "one-China" policy.
Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Pakistan had barred Taiwan's two largest airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air, from its airspace since Oct. 25, quoting Defense Minister Khawaja Asif as saying the decision followed a "one-China" policy and that "only mainland China is allowed."
Pakistan reversed the policy later Wednesday, granting the two airlines access to its airspace from Wednesday through March 27 next year, according to Pakistani media reports.
Asked about the issue at a weekly Cabinet news conference, Lee said, "We deeply regret Pakistan's behavior, including pandering to China by compromising flight safety, disregarding international rules and reality, undermining our national sovereignty, and politicizing and weaponizing airspace."
"The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign country. It and China are not subordinate to each other. This is an undeniable, objective fact and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," Lee added.
A Ministry of Transportation and Communications official said the access period coincided with the International Air Transport Association's winter schedule, and that an application for continued access would be filed for the summer schedule that follows.
The ministry will remain in close contact with the airlines about any changes in airspace access, the official added.
(By Sean Lin)
Enditem/sfj
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Have you ever had a flight itinerary affected by an airspace restriction or an airline route change, and how did you adjust your plans?
