KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator announced on Tuesday (Nov. 12) that Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際機場) has made significant strides in recovering its winter flight operations to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 93% of its previous capacity as of November.
DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) has actively spearheaded efforts to restore flight routes and volume, which currently stand at 73% and 75%, respectively. Lai has engaged with the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA, 民航局) and industry stakeholders to expedite recovery. He noted that the administration will continue offering landing and takeoff incentives to attract more airlines to Kaohsiung.
Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) plans to launch a new route from Kaohsiung to Sapporo on Jan. 21, 2025, marking its first flight from Kaohsiung to Hokkaido. Tigerair Taiwan reported that Kaohsiung had only six routes in 2019, which have increased to ten post-pandemic destinations like Tokyo Narita, Nagoya, and Osaka.
Currently, the airline operates three aircraft stationed at Kaohsiung Airport, with plans to add another after new aircraft deliveries, expanding options for the southern Taiwan travel market. CAA announced that the first phase of the new terminal construction at Kaohsiung International Airport has entered the detailed design stage. The administration intends to select construction contractors carefully to shorten the building timeline.
