Bus No. 5 stops at Tainan Airport at present. There are few passengers on weekdays. (Photographed by Ruei-Cin Hong)

6-13-2013 Liberty Times
By Ruei-Cin Hong from Tainan

Is the Tainan Airport shuttle bus service ready for the international flights to be launched between Tainan and Hong Kong on July 18? The Bureau of Transportation stated that in addition to Bus No. 5, the High Speed Rail (HSR) shuttle bus will make a stop at Tainan Airport. Red 20 will also be available at the airport starting in August when the Tainan City Bus Red Route begins operating.

In the future, there will be one direct flight from Tainan to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to Tainan every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, totaling 6 flights per week. 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.

The direct flights operated by China Airlines between Tainan and Hong Kong, with tickets costing around $8000, offer an alternative to backpackers. Residents in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan can travel by air without going far. The flights expect to attract tourists from Hong Kong, Guangdong and Shenzhen to Tainan. Therefore, convenient transportation between the airport and downtown is crucial.

Currently, Bus No. 5 makes a detour at Tainan Airport on its way to Tainan Train Station. The frequency of the buses will be adjusted to the flight schedule. In August, the Red Route begins operating, and the new sub-route Red 20 will also stop at Tainan Airport, in addition to its original stops such as Tainan Train Station, Metropolitan Park, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy, and Science and Jhongjhou, to meet the needs of increasing international passengers, according to the Bureau of Transportation.

Besides, as coordinated by the Bureau of Transportation, the HSR shuttle bus, which currently runs 100 times daily, will make a stop at Tainan Airport during each run in order to make transit easier for passengers. The trial project is expected to commence in July to familiarize the drivers of the HSR shuttle bus with the new route. Their familiarity with the route contributes to the success of the new transportation network connecting the airport and downtown.

However, most taxi drivers lining up at the taxi stand of the airport are skeptical whether the new international flights at Tainan Airport will bring more profits. “Seriously speaking, only three more incoming flights per week will have a very limited effect on the number of passengers,” said Mr. Cai, a taxi drivers.

Another driver Mr. Chen is positive toward the new flights. If more international flights are launched, the number of taxi passengers will also increase. However, only when the occupation rate of each flight reaches 50%, will the service providers make even of the business.