Taoyuan Airport control meets Narita overnight curfew   China Airlines 300 passengers stranded in Tokyo overnight

▲ China Airlines flight delay causes passengers to spend the night at Narita Airport. (Photo/ Illustration, photo by reporter Xu Wenbin)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Affected by traffic control at Taoyuan Airport, China Airlines Flight CI109, originally scheduled to depart from Narita Airport and return to Taoyuan at 21:40 on the 12th, was delayed and took off at 11:31 this morning (July 13), arriving in Taoyuan at 13:23. As over 300 passengers were stranded at Narita Airport and some were unable to check into hotels, China Airlines will compensate each passenger who could not rest in a hotel with 200 US dollars.

This China Airlines flight was delayed on the outbound journey due to traffic control at Taoyuan Airport, and only arrived at Narita Airport at 22:30. After completing security checks and cleaning, it was already within Narita Airport’s curfew hours of 23:00–06:00, which consequently affected the return flight’s departure. This left over 300 passengers on board stranded overnight at Narita Airport, with some also unable to check into hotels. Regarding this incident, some members of the public believe that China Airlines lacks sufficient emergency response capability for flight delays, while others online argue that the root of the problem lies in the traffic control at Taoyuan Airport.

China Airlines stated that after confirming the aircraft could not take off, priority was given to arranging elderly and child passengers to stay in hotels or the VIP lounge, and sleeping bags were provided for other passengers to rest. China Airlines Public Relations Manager Lee Wen-yi also mentioned that the return flight had already returned to Taoyuan this afternoon, and a chocolate gift box was given as an apology upon arrival in Taiwan. For passengers who were unable to check into hotels, China Airlines will subsequently provide compensation of 200 US dollars; those who paid for their own hotel stays can also apply for reimbursement with receipts for accommodation and transportation costs. Tour group members will have follow-up compensation handled by their tour guides.