TTGasia.com, Jun 20 – 26, 2008

Some in the travel sector insist the landmark deal permitting cross-straits flights will have minimal impact for Hong Kong, but others expect hefty losses. The optimistic note the 18 new flights – although regularly scheduled – are still charter operations and such services come with numerous restrictions, particularly on individual travel. Industry officials insist Hong Kong’s status as the gateway to China remains safe, particularly when the choice for mainland-bound longhaul travellers is between flying on a reliable carrier such as Cathay Pacific or Taiwanese carriers, which have poor safety records. But the opportunity for cross-straits Taiwanese travellers to cut costs and travel time by flying direct to China will no doubt shave a few percentage points off the 3.68 million mainland-bound Taiwanese nationals who transit via Hong Kong each year.

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