Taiwan's two major air carriers expressed excitement Tuesday in the wake of a proposal by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), to include Taiwan in a Schengen visa-waiver program. The proposal made a day earlier will allow Taiwanese passport holders to travel visa-free around the 28 European countries in the Schengen area for up to three months if it is passed by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers. A spokesman for China Airlines, the nation's largest air carrier, said that he is 'happy to see Taiwan being included.' Liu Kuo-chien noted that when Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea granted visa-free treatment to Taiwanese travelers, it stimulated the growth of transport and group tours, especially on Japanese routes and the charter business. 'If the Schengen visa-waiver program includes Taiwan, it is expected to raise the transport volume on European routes by 30 percent,' Liu said. EVA Air, meanwhile, said that if Taiwanese people are extended visa-free treatment, they will be more willing to tour Europe. The recent plunge of the euro will add to this attraction, EVA Air said. Asked if there will be new flight destinations in Europe for Taiwanese carriers, Liu said that this will hinge on whether Taiwan can obtain air rights. EVA Air said that after the European Commission's proposal is approved, the carrier will expand the capacity of its flights to Europe. For example, it now uses A330-200 passenger planes that can carry 252 passengers on its Vienna route, but plans to expand to larger passenger planes that can carry 316 passengers, the company said. 