By KHT Staff. AI illustration image.
TAIPEI — Mandarin Airlines (華信航空) and UNI Air (立榮航空) have applied to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (民航局) to suspend all domestic flights to Hualien County (花蓮縣). The carriers cited rising international fuel costs and domestic ticket prices that have remained unchanged for 26 years.
The applications, submitted in late June, are currently under review.
Data provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (交通部) shows that passenger load factors on routes to Hualien have consistently remained below 50 percent. Between 2023 and 2025, the Taipei (台北) to Hualien route averaged a 36 percent load factor. During the same period, the Kaohsiung (高雄) to Hualien and Taichung (台中) to Hualien routes averaged 37 percent and 44 percent, respectively.
Government incentive programs introduced in late 2024 aimed to boost tourism by subsidizing daily flights between Taipei and Hualien. However, passenger demand continued to fall. Following the subsidies, the Taipei to Hualien load factor dropped to 29.5 percent. In the first half of 2026, it fell further to 24 percent.
During the summer peak travel season in 2026, the Taipei to Hualien load factor was 16.8 percent. The Kaohsiung to Hualien route operated at 42 percent capacity, while the Taichung to Hualien route reached 54 percent.
Ministry of Transportation and Communications officials stated they understand the financial difficulties faced by the airlines. The officials said the ministry will respect the Civil Aeronautics Administration’s professional and market-based assessment regarding the suspension applications.
Addressing concerns from Hualien residents about the potential loss of air transport during natural disasters, ministry officials stated that maintaining a “lifeline” is a government responsibility. If the flight suspensions are approved, the ministry stated it will remain prepared to activate coordinated land, sea, and air transport plans during emergency situations.
