China Airlines fate improves

TAIWAN’S China Airlines is expecting to break its run of quarterly losses and break even this year. China Airlines lost T$2.96 billion (US$90 million) in this year’s first quarter. In a statement the carrier acknowledged China and Taiwan’s increased cargo traffic for the gain and the anticipation of direct cross-straits flights to be introduced in August.

“Our cargo figures were extremely weak last year, and if there’s a rebound there we should be able to break even,” said China Airlines spokesman Bruce Chen. “Direct flights are also helping, and we’ll have a branch in Beijing very soon.”

When the direct flights start the carrier will fly from Taipei to Beijing, Shanghai-Pudong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xian. It will also operate flights from Kaohsiung to Shanghai-Pudong and Shenzhen.