The Songshan-Fuzhou flight is about 80% full — passenger list surprises with Mazu Lin Mo-niang

▲ Mandarin Airlines’ direct Songshan–Fuzhou flight on February 18. (Photo / Provided by the airline)

Reported by Xiao Wan-ning / Fuzhou

What!? Mazu Lin Mo-niang is also flying? This is definitely not a prank, because Fujian Province is the origin of Taiwan’s faith traditions, and as Fuzhou’s customs and lifestyle are relatively similar to those in Taiwan, there is also a large Taiwanese business community in Fuzhou. Therefore, before the direct Songshan–Fuzhou flight began on February 18 this year, traveling to Fuzhou mostly involved flying from Taichung or taking a boat,Chen Chih-che, general manager of Mandarin Airlines’ Fuzhou office, said,currently, almost 80% of the seats on each Songshan–Fuzhou flight are sold, showing that demand for this route is quite high.

▲ Chen Chih-che, general manager of Mandarin Airlines’ Fuzhou office (left), and Hsieh Hui-chun, director of China routes at China Airlines Taipei Branch Passenger Sales Department (right). (Photo / Taken by reporter Xiao Wan-ning)

Further analyzing passenger distribution, Hsieh Hui-chun, director of China routes at China Airlines Taipei Branch Passenger Sales Department, said that passengers traveling between Songshan and Fuzhou are currently mainly business travelers, with occasional religious group tours, and backpackers make up a small but gradually increasing portion.

Due to the occasional presence of religious groups, Chen Chih-che also said that if statues are not assigned seats, for flight safety reasons they must go in the cargo hold and cannot be carried on passengers’ laps. Therefore, most worshippers buy a seat for the deity. Passenger lists have featured names like “Lin Mo-niang” — a deity — two or three times in the month since the route launched. He added that for such special passengers, noting them in advance can avoid customs and passport checks. Although it's a statue on the plane, it still must be securely fastened with a seatbelt to prevent it from sliding off during takeoff or landing. But even though it’s a statue, since it takes up a seat, the fare is the same as for regular passengers.

Hsieh Hui-chun also added that China Airlines is currently collaborating with hotels in various parts of Fuzhou. Round-trip flights plus hotel stays can cost under NT$10,000, making it suitable for planning short trips. Currently, the Songshan–Fuzhou flights,operate every Tuesday and Friday using Boeing B738 aircraft under Mandarin Airlines flight numbers AE211/AE212, offering 8 business class and 150 economy class seats.