The integration of Taiwanese and Chinese air networks for direct air cargo services

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait perform mutually dependent but complementary activities in the global manufacturing supply-chain. As a result, trade between Taiwan and China grew in double digits annually in the 1990s. With growing economic ties, direct air links are inevitable. In this research, we analyzed government documents and interviewed the air cargo carriers and airlines that currently serve the Taiwan–China air cargo market. This information enabled us to tabulate the trade, estimate the airport-to-airport air cargo demand and calibrate the international and domestic freight tariffs. We used a connectivity measurement and classified Chinese airports into national, regional and local classes in a hub-and-spoke air cargo network. We developed a mathematical model and a branch-and-bound algorithm. The results showed that at least two transit airports are economically necessary for a Taiwan–China air link. Shanghai and Xiamen were always the top two transit airports. The third airport would be Changsha if the decision becomes three air-links. These links are different from the top three passenger transit airports, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Shanghai, even though the cost saving is moderate.