With COVID-19 shutting down borders, including Taiwan’s, international travel remains off the table for most people. But domestically, the pandemic remains under control. This and the arrival of summer have brought a surge of interest in domestic flights, especially to Taiwan’s island getaways.
Taiwan’s big, long-haul carriers may have seen better days. But for smaller carriers offering flights to Taiwan’s outlying islands, business has never been better.
As COVID-19 keeps travel abroad out of reach, Taiwanese people are flocking instead to Taiwan’s Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu Islands. For most, that means a short hop across the sea in an airplane.
Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air are both increasing the number of flights to these island destinations. They also plan to use larger planes as many flights fill up. The airlines expect passenger volume to jump by more than 80% once the summer holidays arrive.
The rush to get to the islands began in mid-May, and it’s only growing. In June and July, Mandarin Airlines is adding 80,000 seats on its routes to Penghu alone. It expects to be able to carry 300,000 passengers to and from the islands over the course of the summer vacation. UNI Air, too, is adding seats-- more than ten thousand each for routes to Penghu and Matsu.
Travel agents say that tickets will be in short supply. So book quickly!