TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's international flight traffic rebounded to 95% of pre-pandemic levels during the first half of this year, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA, 民航局) announced Tuesday (July 22). The robust recovery saw 24.8 million passengers travel through Taiwan's airports from January to June, approaching the 29.97 million passengers recorded during the same period in 2019. The milestone reflects Taiwan's aviation industry's strong rebound from the global travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.
CAA Director Ho Shu-ping (何淑萍) attributed the surge in international flight traffic to new aircraft deliveries by national airlines, flexible market strategies, and government incentives. CAA Air Transport Division Director Hsieh Jin-mei (謝金玫) noted that the summer schedule includes 104 international destinations with 2,865 weekly flights, restoring 97% of pre-pandemic operations. Hsieh highlighted impressive regional growth, including a 93% increase in Middle East flights, 36% growth to North America, and 14% rises to Japan and South Korea.
Cross-strait policy factors have limited recovery to Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China to 91% and 51%, respectively. The upcoming summer season and national holidays are expected to boost travel demand, with operators continuing to plan new routes across multiple destinations. United Airlines launched a new Kaohsiung-Tokyo-San Francisco route in July, while Etihad Airways will open a Taipei-Abu Dhabi route in September and EVA Air plans a Taipei-Dallas connection in October.
The CAA forecasts that international flight traffic will reach between 54.98 million and 61.78 million passengers this year, potentially establishing a new record for Taiwan's aviation industry. Officials expressed optimism about sustained growth as airlines continue expanding routes and capacity to meet recovering demand. The projected figures would surpass pre-pandemic levels and mark Taiwan's emergence as a regional aviation hub in the post-coronavirus travel landscape. ◼