Low-cost assault on Taiwan-Australia open skies? Tigerair Taiwan to launch Macau route in mid-December

▲ Tigerair Taiwan is expected to launch the Taiwan-Macau route in mid-December. (Photo / Provided by Tigerair Taiwan)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

With the new open skies air agreement between Taiwan and Macau taking effect on October 30, low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan is also expected to launch its Taiwan–Macau route in mid-December.

Tigerair Taiwan had previously revealed at the China Low-Cost Airlines Summit that it was planning the Taiwan–Macau route and was waiting for an operating permit while further coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau. The airline also recently stated that although it had originally planned to increase flights to Jeju from Taiwan by the end of the year, Macau has now been prioritized, with flights potentially launching as early as mid-December.

According to Macau statistics, after the implementation of direct cross-strait flights, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Macau has continued to decline. From January to September this year, there were 727,000 Taiwanese visitors to Macau, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Some Taiwanese travel industry insiders have noted that currently, Taiwanese travelers mostly prioritize Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong for short-haul trips, but the lure of low-cost tickets could help stimulate interest in traveling to Macau.Currently, the Taiwan–Macau route is served by EVA Air, TransAsia Airways, and Air Macau, with a combined total of about 110 flights per week. If Tigerair joins the Taiwan-Macau route, industry insiders expect ticket prices couldbecome more competitive at around NT$2,500–3,000.