A view of the Taiwan Straits is seen from Xiamen port, in East China's Fujian Province. Photo: IC

China's State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said on Wednesday that the adjusted M503 flight route has rectified cross-Straits aviation operation as well as personnel exchanges, and was in line with the common benefit of people in Chinese mainland and the Taiwan island. 

Zhu made the remarks during a regular press conference regarding media questions about the operation conditions of the M503 flight route that was adjusted at the end of January, and the arrangement of its connecting flight routes W122 and W123. 

The M503 flight route has been operating safely and steadily in nearly a month since it was adjusted, and the route can facilitate daily 65 flights on average by airliners from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and international airliners, demonstrating the safety and reliability of the route, said Zhu. 

The Civil Aviation Administration of China on January 31 2024 announced that from February 1, the deviation of the M503 flight route from north to south will be canceled, and its connecting routes W122 and W123 from west to east will be activated.

"The optimization of the M503 flight route has proved to be conducive to improving cross-Strait flight operations and further facilitating cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges, which is in line with the common interest of people in the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan island," Zhu said. 

Zhu added that the preparation for the connecting routes W122 and W123 are underway, and they will be launched when ready. 

Global Times