Anti-China riots in Vietnam ! Return flights to Taiwan in short supply – Civil Aeronautics Administration: Not true at all

▲ The anti-China riots in Vietnam are spreading. Currently, there are reports of a major demonstration planned for the 18th. (Photo / Tachi Image / AP)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The anti-China riots in Vietnam are intensifying. The Ministry of Transportation’s Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that in response to the possibility of large-scale demonstrations in the country on the 18th, it has coordinated with airlines to deploy larger aircraft and increase the number of seats available for returning to Taiwan. It is making every effort to assist Taiwanese nationals stranded in Vietnam to return home. Regarding the current reports of return flights being hard to come by, the CAA has clarified: “This is absolutely not the case!”

The Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that it has set up a special task force to continuously monitor seat demand and has required airlines to increase staffing and prepare capacity at airports, ready to respond with ad hoc additional flights or larger aircraft to increase the total number of available return seats, striving to ensure that every citizen stranded there can return home smoothly.

▲ China Airlines recently deployed larger aircraft to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to help Taiwanese evacuate and return home as soon as possible. (Photo / Eastern News)

As for the current reports that return seats are in short supply, the Civil Aeronautics Administration also clarified that on the 16th, it arranged for two flights to Ho Chi Minh City to use larger aircraft, adding 222 return seats. Out of a total of 1,719 seats, the actual number of passengers was 1,527, with an 89% load factor, leaving 192 empty seats.

On the 17th and 18th, the Civil Aeronautics Administration has further coordinated with airlines to deploy larger passenger aircraft for flights to Ho Chi Minh City, with one flight per day using a larger aircraft, adding 149 return seats each day, providing 1,565 and 1,620 seats respectively. According to current booking data from various airlines, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Taiwan on the 17th still have over 180 empty seats, and on the 18th, there are even over 400 empty seats, indicating that there is definitely no situation of return seats being unavailable.

Starting today, the Civil Aeronautics Administration is also publishing online the number of return seats from Vietnam to Taiwan and the booking status each day. The public can visitthe official website of the Civil Aeronautics Administrationon the right side of the homepage,the “Return Flight Information for Taiwanese in Vietnam” sectionto check, or call the “Civil Aeronautics Administration Vietnam Return Flight Information Hotline” at 0800-211-798 for related information. For issues regarding tour group refunds, please contact the Tourism Bureau service hotline at 0800-811-885.