By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Four of the nine Japanese destinations served from Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際機場) recorded average seat occupancy rates below 90% in July, according to Civil Aviation Administration data cited in a Sept. 1 Liberty Times report republished by Yahoo Taiwan.
The four destinations below 90% were Naha, Okinawa (沖繩那霸), Kumamoto (熊本), New Chitose in Hokkaido (北海道新千歲) and Okayama (岡山). Nagoya (名古屋) had the highest average load factor (seat occupancy rate) at 94.2%, while Kumamoto was lowest at 84.9%.
The other direct Japanese destinations covered by the figures were Tokyo Narita (東京成田), Osaka Kansai (大阪關西), Fukuoka (福岡) and Sendai (仙台).
Across 24 individual airline-route combinations, Tigerair Taiwan’s Kaohsiung-Fukuoka service ranked highest at 96.2%, followed by its Naha service at 96%. Thai Lion Air’s Naha route was lowest at 65.1%, while Thai AirAsia’s Narita service recorded 79%. Those were the only two combinations below 80%.
A passenger load factor measures the proportion of available seats occupied on a service. The July figures show that demand varied substantially by destination and airline even during Taiwan’s summer travel season.
Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) serves all nine existing Japanese destinations from Kaohsiung. Its Kumamoto and Okayama services were the carrier’s only two among those routes with July load factors below 90%, the report said.
An official Tigerair Taiwan launch page lists Ishigaki (石垣島) and Komatsu (小松) as its next destinations from Kaohsiung. The Ishigaki service was scheduled to begin Wednesday, Sept. 2, with Komatsu following Thursday, Sept. 3. The additions are scheduled to raise the number of Japanese destinations directly connected to Kaohsiung to 11.
The July results do not establish how the new routes will perform. Their passenger load factors will provide an early measure of demand after they enter service.
Location: View Kaohsiung International Airport in Siaogang District (小港區) on Google Maps.
