International flight schedules this summer have returned to 73 percent of levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, while the weekly average of international flights since the season officially began on March 30 is 2,239, about 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels and up 5 percent from the whole of summer last year, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said yesterday.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has flights to 99 airports worldwide, or 73 percent of pre-pandemic levels, Chen said at the legislature while briefing the Transportation Committee on ministry policies regarding attracting foreign tourists and improving international airport services, flight capacity and expanding destinations.
With international air traffic returning to more stable levels, planes are flying to 99 airports this summer, which ends on Oct. 25, he said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Four new destinations — Tiger Air services to Oita and Yonago airports, and Starlux Airlines services to Kobe Airport in Japan, as well as Royal Air Philippines services to Bohol Island — have been added this summer, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said.
Etihad Airways would provide flights between Taoyuan airport and Abu Dhabi from September, while Starlux Airlines and United Airlines would offer Ontario, California, and Guam services, the ministry said.
Kaohsiung’s Siaogang International Airport has also added flights to China’s Chongqing by China Airlines, Vietnam’s Nha Trang City by VietJet Airlines and South Korea’s Jeju by T’way Air, the ministry said.
Tiger Air Taiwan also said it is in talks to launch services between Kaohsiung airport and Sendai, Japan, while China Airlines and United Airlines are planning links to Narita airport in Japan and San Francisco, it said.
Taichung International Airport has 11 international destinations, four more than prior to the pandemic, the ministry said, adding that flights at the airport were 79 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Taichung airport is averaging 104 flights per week, up 68 percent compared with summer last year, it said.
Tiger Air Taiwan on March 30 resumed flights between Taichung and Macau, and is in talks with Nagoya International Airport to resume flights, it said, adding that Bamboo Airways is also planning to start flights between Taichung and Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Flights from Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) this summer serve nine airports, two of which are international, or 64 percent of pre-pandemic capacity, the ministry said.
Weekly flights at Songshan average 138, or 90 percent of pre-pandemic capacity, it said, adding that the five routes that are yet to resume are in China.
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