KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) launched a new flight route from Kaohsiung to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, on Monday (Oct. 28).
This route aims to cater to the growing demand for travel between Taiwan and Vietnam, especially as Phu Quoc offers visa-free entry for Taiwanese travelers, according to Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑). Hsu also expressed hope for future visa-free trials with countries like Vietnam and Indonesia.
Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際航空站) has reported stable growth in passenger and cargo volumes in recent years. The airport currently hosts 23 airlines that operate flights to 26 cities, with 640 bi-directional flights weekly. Passenger volume has recovered to 75% of pre-pandemic levels.
Since October, Kaohsiung has opened ten new routes, including destinations in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan's Nangan (南竿).
Hsu revealed plans to further expand Kaohsiung's network next year with new routes or airlines, including Kumamoto (熊本) and Sendai (仙台) in Japan.
He stated that the airport will undergo construction to transform and accommodate the increase in Asia-Pacific routes. This will position Kaohsiung as Taiwan's second-largest gateway, alleviating pressure on Taoyuan International Airport (桃園國際機場).