TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China officially reopened its borders to international travelers on Sunday (Jan. 8) and many people in Taiwan wasted no time to book their flights.
According to the new regulations, inbound travelers no longer need to undergo PCR tests or quarantine on arrival.
Many at Taoyuan International Airport were traveling to China for work, while Chinese students also took the opportunity after being unable to return home for the past two years.
Even so, many travelers are worried about the risk of infection in China. Some said they were returning home to take care of famliy matters, and a student revealed that even though the COVID-19 situation back home is less than ideal, her family members had all been infected already, so there is less risk.
Ground crew at Taoyuan International Airport remarked that flights to China on Jan. 8 have all been booked solid, including the 3 flights to Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xiamen on Sunday morning.
As the number of travelers to China increase, many people have pointed out the noticeable absence of EVA Air flights across the Taiwan Strait.
In response to media inquiries, EVA Air released a statement explaining that because flights are all booked beforehand, and those headed to Shanghai are on a fixed schedule, current flights are assigned to fly empty to China and return with outbound Chinese travelers.
They added that bookings during Chinese New Year have also reached 80% of flight capacity, so they will adjust timetables accordingly to accommodate the changes.