TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Three major Taiwanese airlines canceled all domestic flights scheduled for Wednesday (Aug. 13) as Typhoon Podul threatened the island. Mandarin Airlines (華信航空), UNI Air (立榮航空), and Daily Air (德安航空) announced the sweeping cancellations on Tuesday (Aug. 12) to ensure passenger safety. UNI Air, a subsidiary of Evergreen Group, urged passengers to check the latest updates on its website or app for rebooking information.
Mandarin Airlines, a subsidiary of China Airlines, echoed this precautionary approach by reminding passengers to monitor their website and app for updates. The airline explained that flight adjustments would be made based on evolving weather conditions as the typhoon approached Taiwan. Daily Air, a Taiwanese regional airline, also canceled its domestic flights on critical island routes including Taitung-Orchid Island (蘭嶼), Taitung-Green Island (綠島), and other offshore destinations. The airline apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the weather-related cancellations.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), Taiwan's national weather service, reported the typhoon's center at 3 p.m. on Tuesday positioned southeast of Taitung. The powerful storm was moving northwest at speeds of 29 to 35 kmh (18 to 22 mph), threatening Taiwan's eastern coast. Weather officials continued monitoring the typhoon's path as it approached the island's populated areas. ◼
