The first half of 2010 is shaping up as a critical period for cross-Strait air service expansion. Carriers on both sides remain hopeful that there will be further progressive liberalisation of access arrangements on the route, to enable carriers to capitalise on the massive market potential for business and leisure travel between the two markets. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) Director General, Lee Lung-wen, has recently stated Taiwan hopes to double direct services to Mainland China from the current 270 to more than 540 weekly services, although a timeframe was not disclosed. If this were to occur, it would represent another significant step up in capacity between the two and further re-shape aviation traffic flows and strategy in North Asia.