Foreign budget airlines had a 2.9 percent share of the Taiwan market at the end of August, up from 0.3 percent in 2005, one year after low-cost carriers began operating on the island, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said Sept. 11.
The figure is still well below the Asia-Pacific region average of 24.6 percent, illustrating that budget carriers still have much potential for growth in Taiwan, the CAA said.
The administration has been assessing the feasibility of opening a separate terminal at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for low-cost airlines once their operations reach a scale requiring more space and infrastructure.
South Korea has the most budget carriers serving Taiwan, with four—Air Busan, Eastar Jet, Jin Air and T’way Airlines. Other such airlines include Australia’s Jetstar Airways, Malaysia-based AirAsia and AirAsia X, the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific Air and Singapore’s Tiger Airways.
After Singapore’s Scoot Airlines launches services Sept. 18 and Japan’s Peach Aviation follows suit Oct. 16, there will be 11 foreign low-cost carriers offering flights to and from Taiwan, the CAA said. (SB-THN)