TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's domestic air travel network is expanding as Mandarin Airlines (華信航空), a regional carrier, unveiled plans on Tuesday (April 15) for a new regular route connecting the southern port city of Kaohsiung with the outlying island of Matsu Nangan (南竿). The service, scheduled to begin June 6, coincides with the peak viewing season for the archipelago's renowned "Blue Tears," a natural phenomenon where bioluminescent plankton create an ethereal blue glow in coastal waters.
The new service will operate weekly on Fridays, with Flight AE7925 departing Kaohsiung at 11:15 a.m. and touching down on the remote island at 12:55 p.m. Passengers returning to the mainland can board Flight AE7926, which leaves Matsu Nangan at 1:40 p.m. and arrives in Kaohsiung by 3:20 p.m. Mandarin Airlines officials described the route as strategically important for improving accessibility for military personnel stationed on the frontline island, local residents, and the growing number of domestic tourists.
In promotional materials, the airline emphasized Matsu's distinctive attractions, including its rugged coastal scenery, well-preserved traditional stone villages, and military heritage sites from decades of cross-strait tensions. The new route creates a more comprehensive air network, allowing travelers to access the island cluster from either Taipei, Taiwan's capital, or Kaohsiung in the south. This service expansion builds upon Mandarin Airlines' Taipei-Matsu Nangan route introduced in 2023, which has proven popular among domestic travelers.
In separate aviation news, Taiwan's boutique carrier Starlux Airlines (星宇航空), a relatively new entrant in the competitive long-haul market, announced it will inaugurate service between Taipei and Ontario, California, beginning June 2. This destination becomes the airline's fourth North American route, strategically targeting the substantial Taiwanese and Asian diaspora communities in the Greater Los Angeles region. The carrier will deploy its Airbus A350 aircraft configured with 306 seats across four service classes, operating four weekly flights during the launch phase. ★