TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will offer 2,462 flights with 205,728 seats to offshore islands Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA, 民航局), Taiwan's aviation regulator, announced Monday (Dec. 1). The CAA will open reservations in phases starting Monday (Dec. 9) at 6 p.m., addressing high demand for air travel to these islands during the nine-day holiday from Feb. 14 to Feb. 22.
The CAA designated Feb. 13to 23 as the air transport period for the holiday, extending beyond the official nine-day celebration to accommodate travel demand. Penghu will receive 1,218 flights with 95,326 seats, Kinmen 1,052 flights with 97,160 seats, and Matsu 192 flights with 13,242 seats during the period. The CAA will plan additional flights based on booking demands to ensure adequate capacity for travelers.
Flights on the Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu routes will accept phone and online bookings from Monday (Dec. 9) to Wednesday (Dec. 11) between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The CAA emphasized that tickets for peak periods, Feb. 13 to Feb. 18 from Taiwan to the islands and Tuesday to Feb. 18 to 23 for return, will include restrictions. Tickets will be valid only on the date and flight and void if not used.
The CAA emphasized the importance of canceling bookings promptly if unable to travel, as tickets are valuable resources during the holiday season. Passengers must cancel their reservations before the flight's departure to avoid penalties. The administration urges travelers to cancel unwanted tickets early and follow original ticketing rules for refunds to protect their rights. ◼