Taiwan detects flights using new Chinese controversial flight path

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/03/29
By: Zep Hu and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) Taiwan detected 15 flights as of Sunday afternoon using China’s newly opened M503 flight route that is seen as a threat to Taiwan’s security and aviation safety.

Most of the flights using the flight path up to 4 p.m. were flying from Pudong Airport in Shanghai to Hong Kong, Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration said.

It also recorded one flight from Qingdao in Shandong Province to Hong Kong, one from Pudong Airport to Kuala Lumpur, and one from Dalian in Liaoning Province to Hong Kong, the agency said.

China’s Civil Aviation Administration said the M503 route was officially inaugurated at midnight Saturday, and that the first flight on the new route, Dragonair (港龍航空) Flight 857 that took off in Shanghai, made a smooth landing in Hong Kong.