People planning to travel abroad around the New Year next week should check in three hours before departure at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to avoid crowds, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said yesterday.
The nation’s largest international airport has entered one of its peak periods, from Christmas to the week following New Year’s Day.
Based on the flight schedule for the period, the number of people passing through the airport could exceed 135,000 per day on Sunday and Monday, as well as on Jan. 5, the company said.
Photo courtesy of Taoyuan International Airport Corp
The peak times for departure are 7am to 9am, 2pm to 3pm and 11pm to midnight, while the peak arrival times are 5am, 1pm to 5pm and 8pm to 10pm, it said.
“We are reminding travelers that they can start checking in three hours before their flights depart, and make sure they do not have prohibited items in their carry-on and checked luggage,” it said.
“They can access the airport using public transport and use smart services offered at the airport,” the company added.
Photo courtesy of Taoyuan International Airport Corp
PASSPORTS
Travelers also need to ascertain that their passports are valid for more than six months and are encouraged to check in online before arriving at the airport, the company said, adding that they can also access in-town check-in services at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line’s Taipei Railway Station (A1) and New Taipei Industrial Park Station (A3).
Travelers can use self-help machines at the airport to complete check-in procedures faster, it added.
In addition, passengers must put mobile power packs, lighters and e-cigarettes in carry-on luggage, the company said, adding that such items cannot contain more than 100ml of liquid.
Before undergoing security inspections, passengers must empty water bottles, take laptops out of their carry-on luggage, and remove jackets, hats and belts, TIAC said.
To prevent domestic outbreaks of African swine fever, air travelers are prohibited from bringing meat products to Taiwan from abroad, and must comply with inspections of animal and plant quarantine officers if they return from areas where the disease has been reported, the company said, adding that those who fail to do so would be subject to penalties.
Those returning from areas that have not been reported as affected by African swine fever should follow instructions from airline ground staff to facilitate their arrival, it said.
Air travelers with up to 200 cigarettes and up to 1 liter of alcohol need not declare them at customs, the company said.
Starting on Wednesday, people with Taiwanese passports aged 10 or older can access the fourth-generation e-Gate immigration system, the company said, adding that the system limits use to travelers who are between 1.2m and 2m tall.
The registration for the e-Gate system is permanent, even with a renewed passport, it said.
Travelers from other countries or regions aged 14 or older can use the e-Gate system when leaving the country if they hold biometric passports and their biological features were recorded in the system upon entry, the company said.
To facilitate entry of international travelers, the National Immigration Agency is to introduce a new version of the online arrival card, which can be filled out 72 hours before arrival, TIAC said.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The airport company also encouraged people to use public buses or the MRT to travel to and from the airport.
“We will coordinate with public transport operators to adjust their services based on the crowd situation. Passengers who drive themselves to pick up relatives or friends can download the company’s app or use the Taoyuan airport’s Web site to get real-time information on traffic and parking,” it said.
Taoyuan International Airport special report
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