Beginning on Friday, parents traveling on domestic flights with children under two years old need not buy flight tickets for their children, provided that they will be accompanied by at least one adult and will not occupy extra seats.
The move was lauded by some as a gift to children from the government, as well as to their parents, as Friday happens to be National Women and Children’s Day.
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) deputy director-general Fang Chih-wen (方志文) said that an amendment to the Protection of Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) was passed by the Legislative Yuan on Jan. 22, allowing children in a certain age group to use public transportation systems for free. The change in the flight ticket policy was necessitated by the amendment, he said.
The administration’s statistics showed that an average of 50,000 domestic flight passengers per year are under two years old. Currently, domestic flight operators give passengers under 12 years old a 25 percent discount on ticket prices. Children who have yet to turn two years old and do not occupy an additional seat pay 10 percent of the full ticket price.
Fang said that the new pricing scheme will apply to those boarding domestic flights beginning on Friday, April 4. Those making reservations before Friday can ask for a refund for children under age two without being charged processing fees.
However, the discount does not apply to those who happen to turn two years old on Friday, he said.
Meanwhile, Fang said each child passenger who qualify for the scheme must be accompanied by at least one adult, and parents are also advised to make reservations in advance.
Based on the Civil Aviation Act (民航法), parents traveling on domestic or international flights must buy tickets for their children once the children turn two years old.
The administration estimated that airlines are to lose NT$10 million when the nation implements the new pricing scheme. The airlines said that the Civil Aviation Operation Fund (民航作業基金) should be used to compensate their losses.
“We are still reviewing this proposal,” Fang said.
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