Taiwan’s China Airlines has cancelled its April 14 and April 17 flights from Taiwan to the Pacific island nation of Palau. That’s because only two people booked seats on each of those flights. The flights were to have been operated under a COVID-19 travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau that took effect April 1.
Since April 1, only 26% of seats on China Airlines flights to Palau have been booked. A second Taiwanese airline, EVA Air, had planned to start its own flights to Palau under the travel bubble, but it has now decided to wait and see whether demand rises before beginning flights.
Deputy Transportation Minister Chen Yen-po has told lawmakers that the high cost of the package tour travelers to Palau must sign up for has made going to Palau less appealing. Travel agencies initially charged between NT$70,000 and NT$80,000 (US$2,500-US$2,800) for the four-day package, but the price has been lowered to around NT$50,000 (US$1,750).
Chen also cited the self-health management measures travelers must follow upon return to Taiwan as a reason for the lack of interest in the travel bubble scheme. Chen said government officials are meeting on Wednesday to discuss the challenges facing the travel bubble.
The Taiwan-Palau travel bubble is the first of its kind for Taiwan. Other countries including Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have also contacted Taiwan about setting up travel bubbles of their own.