Mandarin Airlines to Reduce Flights on Hualien Routes Amid Low Demand

Mandarin Airlines is seeking to significantly reduce its flight operations on routes connecting western Taiwan to Hualien, citing sustained financial losses and consistently low passenger numbers. The airline has formally requested permission to decrease flights on the Kaohsiung-Hualien and Taichung-Hualien routes, which it claims are operating at a substantial deficit.

“

We fly one flight and lose money on one flight.

According to Mandarin Airlines Chairman Chen Ta-chun, the Hualien routes are "losing money on every flight." He reported that the Kaohsiung and Taichung routes to Hualien incurred an annual loss of 70 million New Taiwan dollars last year. The airline noted instances where a flight carried as few as five passengers. Given the availability of alternative transportation like trains and buses, the airline applied in late June to suspend these services entirely.

However, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) has opted for a more gradual approach. Mandarin Airlines will be permitted to reduce flights on the Kaohsiung-Hualien route from seven weekly flights to five, with a further reduction of two flights possible if the load factor drops below 20%. The Taichung-Hualien route, currently operating three weekly flights, may also see a reduction of one flight if passenger numbers fall below the 20% threshold. These adjustments could lead to a total reduction from ten weekly flights to five across both routes, with a new schedule potentially implemented as early as October 1.

“

The Kaohsiung-Hualien and Taichung-Hualien routes lost 70 million last year.

Meanwhile, Uni Air, which operates the Taipei-Hualien route, also applied to suspend its services in June. Uni Air stated that it awaits notification from the CAA regarding its request. The CAA confirmed that it is still evaluating Uni Air's application. The administration's decision on Mandarin Airlines' request involved requesting supplementary information and considering local demand before granting conditional approval for reduced flight frequencies.

“

Mandarin Airlines can appropriately reduce flights when the booking situation is not good, and allocate capacity to other domestic routes with higher demand.