China Eastern hints at cross-strait flights from new Xiamen base

China Eastern has opened a new base at Xiamen, as it hints at launching cross-strait flights into Taiwan, among other future international expansion plans. Explaining what it labels a “major strategic decision”, the carrier says the Xiamen base will — among other reasons — “promote the integrated development of both sides of the Taiwan Strait”. It adds that it was the first Mainland Chinese carrier to have operate charter flights between Taiwan and China, and has the most number of cross-straits flights. However, the carrier did not provide a timeline of when it intends to launch flights from its Xiamen base. China Eastern currently has no flights to Taiwan from Xiamen. Cirium schedules data indicates the carrier flies to 13 domestic points from Xiamen, including to its hubs of Kunming, Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao. <br/>