Results of the Low-Cost Airline Survey Released: “Tokyo” Named the Most Anticipated Destination for New Routes

▲ V Air, a subsidiary of TransAsia Airways, becomes the first local low-cost airline. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

Reporter Chen Rui-zhong / Special Report

One of the major events that captured the attention of many travelers in 2014 was when Taiwan’s China Airlines and TransAsia Airways respectively announced the establishmentof “Tigerair Taiwan”and“V Air”— two local low-cost airlines. This not only means Taiwanese consumers now have more choices for international flights, but also proves that low-cost airlines have entered a booming era in Taiwan.

In addition to continuously reporting the latest discount information and various updates about low-cost airlines, ETtoday EVA Air Travel Cloud also conducted a survey titled “Major Survey on the Launch of Taiwan’s Local Low-Cost Carriers – What Are Travelers Most Excited About?”. A total of 646 readers participated in the questionnaire, and the most anticipated new routes from both local low-cost carriers were stillTokyoand other Japanese destinations.

▲ The results of the “Major Survey on the Launch of Taiwan’s Local Low-Cost Carriers – What Are Travelers Most Excited About?” are out, with Tokyo taking the crown as the most anticipated destination.

Tigerair has the highest recognition rate at 62%
Survey results show that among the low-cost airlines currently flying to Taiwan, Tigerair enjoys the highest recognition, followed by Jetstar. Peach Aviation, Vanilla Air, and Scoot are tied for third place, all enjoying high visibility. Here is the ranking of airline recognition::

Ranking of Low-Cost Airline Recognition
Tigerair 62%
Jetstar 58%
Peach Aviation 49%
Vanilla Air 49%
Scoot 49%
AirAsia 45%
Hong Kong Express 25%
Air Busan 23%
Cebu Pacific 17%
Spring Airlines 15%
TransNusa 11%

95% Choose Low-Cost Airlines for Their Affordability
Among the respondents, 34% have previously flown with low-cost airlines. The primary reason attracting travelers to choose these airlines remains “affordable prices” (95%), far surpassing factors such as flight schedules that fit their needs. Some readers also noted that low-cost airlines offer the flexibility to add services based on travel needs, suiting their personal travel habits. Here is the ranking of reasons for choosing low-cost airlines:

Reasons why low-cost airlines attract you to fly
Cheap by 95%
Flight times fit your needs 33%
The planes are new 14%
The overall atmosphere is lively 10%
Collecting flight records 10%

Further reading:

Flying low-cost airlines is like eating Western food — luggage and meals are just side dishes

Housewives at the market team up to travel abroad — AirAsia makes flying possible for everyone

Hong Kong Express’s inaugural flight from Taichung to Hong Kong, tickets at NT$1,200

Air Busan’s inaugural flight from Kaohsiung to Busan, tickets at NT$4,999

Free meals and checked baggage — Air Busan overturns low-cost airline stereotypes

46% dislike flying low-cost airlines due to narrower and less comfortable seats
Compared to their appealing aspects, the discomfort of low-cost airline seats (46%), concerns over flight safety (42%), extra charges for luggage and meals (44%), and frequent flight delays (43%) are reasons why low-cost airlines are unappealing. Other factors such as poorer service quality and inability to change travel dates also affect passengers’ willingness to choose low-cost airlines. Below are the reasons for not flying with low-cost carriers:

Reasons for not flying low-cost airlines
Less comfortable seat width 46%
Luggage and meals cost extra 44%
Flights are often delayed 43%
Concerns over flight safety 42%
Difficulty in getting tickets 32%
Not cheaper overall compared to traditional airlines 22%
Complicated purchasing process 17%

Other reasons for disliking low-cost airlines: Poor and inadequate customer service, risk of lost luggage, difficulty in refunding tickets, inability to change dates, poor handling of issues, low service quality, fear of not understanding English and missing important notices, only slightly cheaper but non-refundable, inconvenient timings, more complicated procedures in travel planning, and potentially troublesome transit processes.

Further reading:

Vanilla Ticketing dispute — Civil Aeronautics Administration: If not properly handled, routes could be revoked

AirAsia cancels Taipei–Long Beach direct flights

AirAsia cancels Taipei–Long Beach route: Full refunds for tickets, visas, and accommodation

Cebu Pacific delays flights due to runway maintenance

Flight delays or airport closure? Cebu Pacific: It was a misunderstanding caused by runway maintenance

Among the low-cost carriers currently operating flights to and from Taiwan,Tigerair, Jetstar, Peach Aviation, Vanilla Air, and Scootare the most well-known. The two upcoming local airlines, “Tigerair Taiwan” and “V Air,” have also attracted interest, with 52% of readers saying they would be enticed to fly with them.

▲Comparison chart of low-cost carriers flying to Taiwan.

The two Taiwanese low-cost carriers, Tigerair Taiwan and V Air, have sparked much discussion since their launch announcements. To build brand awareness, V Air launched a campaign offering “ten years of free flights for naming the airline” upon its establishment, followed by other promotions like “upload a photo to win a ticket,” actively shaping its image and appealing to younger audiences. Both domestic budget airlines attracted a large number of job applicants when recruiting their first batch of flight attendants, generating significant buzz even before their official debut.

▲Tigerair Taiwan’s recruitment of its first flight attendants drew 7,000 applicants. (Photo / Reporter Yu Ru)

Further reading:

Tigerair Taiwan Flight Attendant Initial Interview – A Zhang Junnian Lookalike Appears

Tigerair Taiwan Recruits Flight Attendants Without Height Restrictions

V Air’s First Batch of Flight Attendants Had a 4% Acceptance Rate, With 20% Male

V Air Recruits Flight Attendants, Prioritizing Quick Reactions and Verbal Communication

Thousands Flock to Songshan Airport Just to Chase the Flight Attendant Dream

Tigerair Taiwan Recruits Flight Attendants: 7,000 Compete for 88 Positions

2014: The Battle Among Airlines for Talent

First Budget Airline of TransAsia Airways Named V Air, Naming Contest Winner Gets Ten Years of Free Flights

V Air Targets Online Market, Gives Away Tickets for Photo Submissions

To Celebrate Its Brand Debut, V Air Gives Away Ten Tickets

▲About 1,800 people applied for V Air’s first flight attendant positions, with an estimated acceptance rate of 4%. (Photo / Provided by TransAsia Airways)

Since low-cost carriers mostly operate flights under four hours, routes departing from Taiwan are expected to focus onSoutheast Asia, Northeast Asia, China, and Australia.Although neither Tigerair Taiwan nor V Air has officially announced their post-launch route plans, among the readers who participated in the poll, the most anticipated destinations for these two local budget airlines areTokyo (473 votes), Osaka (343 votes), Hong Kong (325 votes), Seoul (260 votes), and Bangkok (258 votes).Other destinations mentioned by readers include Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Nagoya, Okinawa, Ishigaki Island, Sapporo, and Sendai, showing that Taiwanese travelers still have a strong interest in visiting Japan.

Further reading:

Will V Air’s First Flight Be to Osaka?

Tigerair Taiwan’s First Destination May Be Southeast Asia

As the low-cost airline market continues to heat up, the Consumers’ Foundation also reminds the public that although low-cost carriers offer cheaper fares than traditional airlines, the required services and protections remain the same. Passengers should carefully read the terms and conditions when purchasing tickets to safeguard their rights.

Further reading:

Low-Cost Airfares Are Cheap, But Protections Shouldn’t Be Compromised

Be Cautious When Booking Tickets – Consumers’ Foundation Names 10 Low-Cost Airlines

Vanilla Air ticketing dispute: Civil Aviation Administration says licenses can be revoked in serious cases

Stop misunderstanding low-cost carriers — they’re also responsible for passenger safety even when flights are grounded