China Airlines resume flights to RP

A China Airlines (CAL) jet landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday morning, the first to arrive after the resumption of flights between Manila and Taipei.

The Airbus with 225 passengers on board, most of them overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), had taken off from Taipeh's international airport.

The OFWs and other passengers were welcomed at the airport by Jose Tanso, director of the Manila Economic Cultural Office, the unofficial Philippine Embassy in Taipeh.

Tanso said he was expecting his Taiwanese counterpart to be at the airport, but his counterpart did not come.

Another Taiwanese airline, Eva Air, will resume regular flights today, while Philippine Airlines will restart normal operations to Taipeh on Feb. 21. Two special PAL flights are scheduled Feb. 10.

"About 200,000 Taiwanese visit the Philippines annually, while registered Overseas Filipino Workers in Taiwan now number 186,000," Tanso said.

The STAR talked with two OFWs and a Taiwanese businessman, who were on board the CAL flight, and they expressed joy that flights between the Philippines and Taiwan have resumed.

"We are very happy for the decision of the government (resumption of flights)," said Daisy Besario, 26, of Libertad Street, Pasay City.

Edwin Cayas, 36, of Negros Oriental, said: "Now the trip won't be that hard. It would be easy for us to return home to see our loved ones."

Taiwanese William Chang, an importer-exporter, said many Taiwanese would celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila.

"I am happy and excited," he said. "We would be able to conduct our business again."

Air services between the two countries were suspended on Oct. 2 last year after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) unilaterally canceled the 1996 air agreement between the two countries.

The suspension lasted for four months until the Philippines and Taiwan decided to sign a partial air agreement, which was approved by President Estrada last Jan. 28.

CAB accused Taiwanese carriers of flying passengers from Manila to the United States via Taiwan, in violation of a standing agreement.

PAL stopped flying to Taiwan on Sept. 30 last year, a day before the government suspended an air agreement with Taiwan over alleged unfair competition by Taiwanese carriers.