Taiwan flights can use mainland airspace

Taiwan's Premier Frank Hsieh said his government would allow Taiwan's flights to fly over mainland airspace for the first time in more than five decades, The Associated Press reported. Taiwan's airlines, however, would still need to apply for China's permission. China declined to comment on Hsieh's proposal. Taiwan has rebuffed mainland offers to reopen the airspace across the 160-km-wide Taiwan Strait, citing national security. EVA Airlines said early estimates indicated it could save at least US$4.7m annually on fuel costs if allowed to fly over mainland air corridor.