Tigerair Taiwan adds new routes to Ibaraki and Iwate; limited-time deals go on sale Jan. 24

Tigerair Taiwan today (Jan. 15) held separate press conferences with Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture in Japan, announcing the launch of two new routes—Taoyuan to Ibaraki and Taoyuan to Hanamaki—at the end of March. Special promotional fares will be available starting Jan. 24.

Datsu Masahiro presents the Iwate Prefecture mascot, Soba-kun, to Chang Hung-chung. Photo: Chang Pei-fen

Tigerair Taiwan Chairman Chang Hung-chung had signed a memorandum of understanding with former Ibaraki Governor Hashimoto Masaru during his visit to Ibaraki last July (2017), expressing hope that the short-term charter flights between Taoyuan and Ibaraki could soon become regular scheduled flights. This would facilitate mutual tourism promotion between Taiwan and Ibaraki in the future. During their current visit to Taiwan to promote Ibaraki tourism, the current Ibaraki Governor Oigawa Kazuhiko and his delegation also arranged a meeting with Tigerair Taiwan. Both sides were pleased to see progress toward their shared goals, with the Taoyuan-Ibaraki route soon transitioning to a regular charter service.

Ibaraki boasts vast land, fertile soil, and abundant marine and mountain resources as well as sightseeing attractions. Home to one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens—Kairakuen—and the popular flower-viewing destination Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki offers unique experiences for a distinctive northern Kanto journey.

In the initial phase, the Taoyuan-Ibaraki route will operate twice weekly—on Mondays and Thursdays. The outbound flight (IT8218) departs Taoyuan Airport at 09:30 AM, while the return flight (IT8219) leaves Ibaraki Airport at 03:00 PM.

To celebrate the launch, Tigerair Taiwan is offering promotional one-way fares starting from NT$2,199 (excluding tax) from 10:00 AM on Jan. 24, 2018, to 11:59 PM on Jan. 25, 2018. Travel dates are from March 26, 2018, to Oct. 27, 2018.

Traditional dance in Iwate Prefecture. Photo: Chang Pei-fen

From right: Tigerair Taiwan Chairman Chang Hung-chung and Iwate Governor Datsu Masahiro preside over the press conference. Photo: Chang Pei-fen

Iwate Governor Datsu Masahiro and Tigerair Taiwan Chairman Chang Hung-chung today publicly signed a memorandum of understanding, expressing hopes for enhanced exchange and development between Taiwan and Iwate. They look forward to the Taoyuan-Hanamaki route becoming a regular scheduled service soon, benefiting travelers from both regions and possibly opening up more business opportunities.

Hanamaki is located in central-western Iwate and is famed nationwide for its Hanamaki Onsen hot spring village, which includes over ten hot spring resorts such as Enshu, Hanamaki, Shitohira, Osawa, and Namari. Hanamaki Airport is the only air gateway to Iwate, making it the most convenient entry point for visiting various attractions in the prefecture.

In the initial phase, the Taoyuan-Hanamaki route will operate twice weekly—on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The outbound flight (IT8258) departs Taoyuan Airport at 12:15 PM, and the return flight (IT8259) leaves Hanamaki Airport at 05:50 PM.

To celebrate the launch, Tigerair Taiwan is offering promotional one-way fares starting from NT$2,099 (excluding tax) from 10:00 AM on Jan. 22, 2018, to 11:59 PM on Jan. 23, 2018. Travel dates are from March 28, 2018, to June 30, 2018.

For more information on promotional deals related to the Ibaraki and Hanamaki routes, please visit the Tigerair Taiwan official website (www.tigerairtw.com) or follow Tigerair Taiwan’s official Facebook fan page and enable “See First” to get the latest updates. Limited promotional tickets are available, so act fast. Interested customers should prepare passports valid for at least six months and credit cards for ticket purchase.

Tigerair Taiwan currently operates flights to nine destinations in Japan: Hakodate, Sendai, Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Osaka Kansai, Okayama, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.

After launching services to Komatsu this Thursday (Jan. 18), Ibaraki on March 26, Asahikawa on March 27, and Hanamaki on March 28, Tigerair Taiwan will have a total of 13 destinations in Japan. Passengers can depart from either Taoyuan or Kaohsiung, bringing the total number of Taiwan-Japan routes operated by Tigerair Taiwan to 17. Travelers can also combine different cities for an in-depth exploration of Japan, experiencing its diverse attractions.

(Business News)