The airline industry’s post-pandemic recovery took center stage at this year’s Taoyuan Airport Forum in Taipei yesterday.
The forum, held by the Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC), also saw officials from Airports Council International (ACI) and other industry experts give an overview on the airport’s role in the transforming airline industry.
In his opening remarks, TIAC Vice President Lee Chun-te (李俊德) highlighted the airport’s plans to open Terminal 3 by 2027, its return to pre-COVID 19 levels of passenger travel, its unique role as the bridge between North America and Southeast Asia, and plans to expand international partnerships and connections.
Photo courtesy of Taoyuan International Airport Corp
The airport is the 15th busiest in the world for passenger traffic and the 10th busiest in the world for cargo.
The airport has 160 weekly direct flights to North America, and travelers passing between North America and Southeast Asia account for 80 percent of all transit passengers, Lee added.
Stefano Baronci, ACI’s director general of Asia-Pacific and Middle East, when asked about the airport’s unique strengths when compared with its peers, agreed with Lee, calling it a “bridge between East and West.”
“[TIAC] understands very well … the need to transfer passengers efficiently,” he said, citing the example of how the airport does not require secondary screenings for those transiting through to international destinations.
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) Chief Secretary Huang He-ting (黃荷婷), called the airport a “model MOTC company.”
The airport would service 44 million to 45 million passengers by the end of this year, Huang said.
Mayur Patel, Asia Pacific regional director at OAG Aviation, presented TIAC with an award on behalf of ACI for having the busiest international route in the world, from Taipei to Hong Kong.
Last month alone, the route had 571,726 seats, more than 100,000 more seats than the closest contender, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Last month, the Taoyuan to Tokyo-Narita route was also among the top 10 in the world by passenger volume.
Taoyuan International Airport special report
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