CAA officials said that the planned business aviation center at the Songshan Airport is slated to be completed for official operation by the end of 2010, when a public tender will be given to consign the winning bidder to operate the center.

As China Airlines will relocate its headquarters to Taoyuan County by the end of next year, the CAA will develop part of CAL's training center at the Songshan Airport into a business aviation center, the officials continued.

The CAA move came as a positive response to requests from quite a few leading enterprises that a business aviation center be set up at the Songshan Airport, according to the officials.

As the Songshan Airport, located in central Taipei, is adjacent to the Taipei 101 tower, TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, and Neihu Science Technology Park, a business aviation center is badly needed to provide faster and more comfortable check-in and clearance services to businesspeople traveling between Taiwan and China, the enterprisers opined.

Some business gurus said that it is much more convenient for them to travel from Songshan Airport than from Taoyuan International Airport to airports on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.

Usually, a business aviation center is separated from other airport terminals and is available with exclusive registration counters and clearance system for business passengers.

The center can also offer convenient services to passengers taking private planes or business-chartered planes, and help famous entertainers from being dogged by paparazzi.

In related news, as the government allows mainland Chinese enterprises to invest in Taiwan and purchase business offices, plants, self-use residential units on the island, the local realty sector noted that five famous commercial districts in Taipei will benefit the most from the realty purchases by Chinese businesspeople.

The five commercial districts refer to those surrounding Shihlin night market, Grand Formosa Regent Taipei on Zhongshan North Road, the Pacific-Sogo Department Store on Zhongxiao East Road, --inyi District, and Dunhua North Road.

Quite a few Chinese enterprises have planned to set up their offices in the --inyi commercial zone. Chinese airline firms are moving to establish branch offices or rep offices in the commercial district of Dunhua North Road, while many Chinese businesspeople prefer to reside in areas surrounding the Regent Hotel.