Direct cargo flights to open between mainland and Taiwan
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East China's Jiangxi Province will have direct cargo flights to Taiwan as of March 8, cutting transportation time from three days to 100 minutes, said local authorities Wednesday.
The weekly flight would link Changbei International Airport, Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi, with Taoyuan International Airport of Taipei, according to a statement by Changbei International Airport.
According to the statement, the cargo flight service would be operated by China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd Jiangxi Branch. The flight would go and return every Monday, carrying up to 4 tons of cargo together with 158 passengers for a single trip.
China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd has set the cargo transportation fee at five yuan (0.732 U.S. dollar) per kilogram, nine yuan less than the indirect flight fee.
Taiwan is Jiangxi's second largest export destination in Asia with a total export value of 480 million U.S. dollars in 2009.
Locals love Taiwan fruits and other products, but because of their high prices, many people can not afford them. Now with the direct cargo flight due to bring down the costs, Taiwan products would become very popular in Jiangxi, said a Nanchang Customs official.
Direct passenger flights between Jiangxi and Taiwan were launched on Sept. 3, 2009.
