By Eryk Michael Smith/Staff
Image via 房蟲說房事 Alain’s Post FB page.
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際航空站) plans to remove part of its long-standing west-side concrete perimeter wall and replace it with a transparent barrier, allowing the public to directly view aircraft takeoffs and landings for the first time since the airport opened more than six decades ago.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) confirmed the plan after independent councilor Lee Shun-chin (李順進) suggested painting murals on the airport’s west-facing wall, which runs alongside Zhongshan 4th Road (中山四路) and has been criticized for resembling a “prison wall.”
Chen said the city has already been working on a plan with Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration and airport authorities, and that removing the wall entirely would be preferable to decorative painting. “Rather than painting planes on a wall, it’s better to watch real planes,” Chen said, adding that the change would significantly open up the visual landscape along one of Kaohsiung’s main airport corridors.
According to city officials, the upgraded section will span roughly 200 meters. Demolition of the existing wall is expected to begin in January 2026, with installation of the new transparent or semi-transparent barrier targeted for completion by mid-2026. Portions of the remaining wall may still be enhanced with murals.
The project marks the first perimeter wall replacement since the airport began operations more than 60 years ago, reflecting broader efforts by the city to upgrade Kaohsiung’s international gateways and improve the visual experience for arriving and departing travelers.
Based on CNA/ Liberty Times reporting. 中央社 CNA
