Regular flights between Tainan and Hong Kong will be launched on July 18. Tainan City Mayor Ching-Te Lai and China Airlines Chairman Huang-Hsiang Sun jointly poured champagne to announce and celebrate the good news. (Photographed by Ruei-Cin Hong)

6-12-2013 Liberty Times
By Ruei-Cin Hong from Tainan

Mayor Ching-Te Lai and China Airlines Chairman Huang-Hsiang Sun officially announced yesterday that regular direct flights between Tainan and Hong Kong will be launched on July 18. Lai described the launch of the flight as “the coming of a baby son”. Lai anticipated that the flight will operate daily and new direct flight routes to cities in Japan and China will be established.

China Airlines Chairman Huang-Hsiang Sun also promised to include Baihe Lotus Tea on the menu for the air routes to and from Hong Kong. Following Dongshan Coffee, Tainan’s agricultural specialties once again are served on the airlines.

The direct flights between Tainan and Hong Kong will bring great effects to southern Taiwan, said Lai. In the future, residents in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan can experience the convenience of traveling to and from Hong Kong and China. Visitors from Hong Kong, Kunshan, Dongguan, and other areas in China can also fly to Tainan directly to enjoy the scenery, fruits and delicacies of the ancient capital of Taiwan.

China Airlines plans to operate 737-800 aircrafts for this route, with 8 business class seats and 150 economy class seats on the flight, three times a week. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, the flight from Tainan to Hong Kong departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 4:00 p.m., while the flight from Hong Kong to Tainan departs at 11:35 a.m. and arrives at 1:00 p.m.

China Airlines plans to achieve an occupation rate of 80%. More flights may will be scheduled according to the actual passenger volume in the future.

Mei-Hui Lai, Speaker of the Council, praised China Airlines for the great publicity of this route, which has brought full booking to the first flight. She suggested that China airlines may change to a higher-capacity model for the debut flight.

However, Sun pointed out that due to the relative narrow runways in Tainan airport, there is safety concern over flying bigger aircraft models to and from Tainan. In addition, the existing ticket sales channels also limit the booking flow.

Many guests witnessed the grand event: including Chiayi County Magistrate Helen Chang, Speaker Mei-Hui Lai, a number of lawmakers, officers of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, leader of the South Taiwan Travel Industry Alliance Frank Fu-Nan Lin, as well as representatives of the travel, hotel and catering industries.

On July 18, Mayor Lai will lead a delegation with the debut flight to Hong Kong to hold a two-day sales and exhibition at Panda Place in the New Territories, Hong Kong. The Cultural Affairs Bureau, Department of Health, Tourism Bureau, Economic Development Bureau, Agriculture Bureau and other agencies of Tainan will invite business owners to set up a total of 15 booths to primarily promote tour packages, cosmetic surgery packages, cultural and creative products, and agricultural specialties of Tainan, including mangos and pineapple cakes.