Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

　　Situated in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan County, it is just a 40-minute drive from downtown Taipei. The airport spans around 1,223 hectares and serves as Taiwan’s most important hub for air cargo and passenger transport. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has two terminal buildings. The opening of these two terminals has made the flow and space at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (formerly Chiang Kai-shek International Airport) more seamless and convenient, featuring a design where immigration and customs are on the same floor.

　　Since Taipei already had Songshan Airport, which is bordered by the Keelung River to the east and north, and closely surrounded by the Taipei urban area on the west and south, expansion was not feasible. Additionally, its facilities could no longer meet growing demands. Therefore, the government planned to construct a new international airport to ease the burden on Taiwan's busy air transport system. It was decided to build the new airport in Taoyuan County, incorporating Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport as one of the Ten Major Construction Projects. In the 69th year of the Republic of China (1980), construction of the airport was approved. Eleven years earlier, in the 64th year (1975), the Civil Aeronautics Administration first proposed renaming the airport to "Chiang Kai-shek Airport" to “commemorate the savior of the nation, the great hero of the era, former President Chiang Kai-shek,” but the Executive Yuan did not approve. Then, on February 15, 1979—just 11 days before the airport’s inauguration—the Executive Yuan suddenly passed the Ministry of Transportation’s proposal to rename it “Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.” On September 6, 2006, the Executive Yuan approved a proposal by the Ministry of Transportation to officially rename Chiang Kai-shek International Airport as “Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.” However, its international abbreviation remains TPE. The name Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, used for nearly 30 years, has now become part of history.

　　Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (Chiang Kai-shek International Airport) officially opened its first terminal on February 26, 1979. At that time, it was one of the most modern international airports in Asia and served as the new main hub for China Airlines, the national carrier of the Republic of China. After EVA Air was established in 1991, it also operated primarily out of Terminal 1. Due to the continuous expansion of both airlines’ fleets and the booming growth of Taiwan’s industrial and commercial sectors, which brought a large increase in passenger traffic, the existing aprons and terminal facilities became insufficient. As a result, Terminal 2 officially began operations on July 29, 2000. Currently, plans for Terminal 3 are underway. Because Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport lies along essential routes between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, passenger and cargo traffic has grown rapidly compared to neighboring countries, in tandem with economic development.

　　With the completion of the airport MRT line, a baggage check-through service will be available at Taipei Main Station. Outbound travelers can check in and check their luggage directly at Taipei Main Station, saving considerable time and effort. Furthermore, the airport MRT currently under construction is expected to partially open in 2011 and be fully operational by 2012. Once completed, besides the regular trains that stop at every station between Taipei and Zhongli (with a total travel time of about 68 minutes), express trains will take only 35 minutes from Taipei to the airport, forming a highly connected transit network.

　　In the future, the airport will upgrade existing terminals and improve both cargo and passenger facilities, along with enhancing both hardware and software infrastructure. This will not only provide better amenities but will also help boost Taiwan’s tourism industry. The improved airport facilities may encourage visitors to stay a few extra days in Taiwan, and tourism operators are accordingly developing new offerings to attract even more tourists. Many hotels have adopted real-time online booking systems, offering secure transactions so that visitors and foreigners traveling to Taiwan can enjoy a more homely and welcoming experience. These efforts also contribute positively to Taiwan’s international image.