By Eryk Michael Smith/Staff. AI image for illustration only.
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung International Airport (高雄國際機場) is easily reached by the city’s MRT Red Line (紅線), which also links to TRA trains at Kaohsiung Main Station (高雄車站), as well as the Zuoying High Speed Rail Station (左營高鐵站) further north on the line. One major inconvenience, however, is the lack of in-town airport check-in services, which means travelers must carry their luggage onto the Kaohsiung MRT (高雄捷運).
A report from UDN says local officials and transport observers are asking why Kaohsiung doesn’t have the same services as the Taoyuan Airport MRT (桃園機場捷運), which allows some passengers to check bags and complete airline procedures before reaching the airport.
Of course, the Taoyuan Airport MRT began commercial service in March 2017; Kaohsiung’s Red Line opened in March 2008. Officials also noted that Taoyuan’s system was built into the airport MRT from the planning stage, whereas Kaohsiung’s MRT stations and trains were not, making immediate implementation very difficult.
Still, many would like to see such a service in Kaohsiung, and supporters have some good arguments: reducing the burden on passengers by allowing travelers to check in earlier and move freely through the city before departure could encourage visitors to spend an extra two to four hours in Kaohsiung, potentially boosting spending.
The Civil Aviation Administration (民航局) said Kaohsiung Airport currently offers a baggage delivery and collection service through Phoenix Baggage Express Co. (鳳凰行李運送服務公司) on the third floor of the international terminal. Officials added that in-town check-in has been included in discussions related to the airport’s new terminal project, which is expected to open sometime in the early 2030s.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Lin Chih-hung (林智鴻) said the issue is not only about convenience but also about how a city presents itself as an international gateway. Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) has pushed for a baggage drop and direct transfer center at Zuoying High Speed Rail Station (左營高鐵站), where passengers could check in early, drop baggage for security sealing and tracking, and continue to Siaogang Airport (小港機場) without hauling luggage through the transit system.
Advocates argue that such a system could enhance the travel experience while potentially also leading to increased spending from departing passengers. It could be quite a while, however, before the city has the kind of seamless airport-rail integration found in other major Asian transport hubs.
