Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Munich Airport yesterday became sister airports following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two airport operators, who pledged to push for a direct service between Taoyuan and Munich.
The memorandum was signed by Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) president David Fei (費鴻鈞) and Flughafen Munchen GmbH chief executive officer Michael Kerkloh in Munich.
Munich Airport went into service in 1992 and saw 40.98 million passengers last year, making it one of the busiest airports in Europe, TIAC said, adding that about 40 percent of that number were transit passengers.
Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport ranking Web site, ranked Munich Airport No. 3 in its top 10 airports list and made it the site’s first “five-star” airport in Europe.
TIAC said the airport is known for its business model that integrates its operations with local industries.
In related news, the company said Terminal Three and a multifunctional building between Terminal Two and Terminal Three are under construction at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, with the multifunctional building aimed at allowing transit passengers to shop, relax and work.
Munich Airport’s Munich Airport Center has been built between its two terminals, and houses a train station, check-in counters, shops, a conference center and other facilities, TIAC said.
“Because the functions of the Munich Airport Center are very similar to those of the multifunctional building in Taoyuan, we hope to learn from their experience by becoming sister airports,” the company said.
Based on TIAC’s plan, Terminal Three is scheduled to be completed in 2020, while the multifunctional building to the east of Terminal Three is to become operational in 2018.
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