V Air's Taipei–Manila inaugural flight hits 90% load factor; mascot Willie the Bear causes airport hilarity while seeing off passengers

▲ V Air launches its Taipei–Manila route today. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Taoyuan

V Air officially launched its direct Taipei–Manila route this afternoon (March 27) with its inaugural flight achieving a near 90% passenger load rate, marking its ninth international route. To celebrate the maiden voyage, V Air arranged for its mascot, Willie the Bear, to greet passengers at the airport and hosted a "Lucky Grab" event, giving travelers the chance to win various Willie the Bear-themed souvenirs.

▲ The "Lucky Grab" event held to celebrate the route launch.

V Air’s Taipei–Manila route is operated by the A320 aircraft, which can carry up to 180 passengers. The inaugural flight today carried 160 passengers, achieving a near 90% load factor. Among today’s passengers were not only Taiwanese travelers but also many foreigners from Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. While waiting for boarding, Willie the Bear kept the atmosphere lively by entertaining passengers with comedic antics and posing for photos, drawing crowds. A passenger surnamed Lin from Manila mentioned that he had purchased a discounted V Air ticket, making the fare much cheaper than traditional airlines.

▲ Many passengers took commemorative photos with Willie the Bear.

Currently, several traditional airlines in Taiwan, such as Philippine Airlines, operate direct flights to Manila. With V Air’s new route, low-cost carriers now include both V Air and Cebu Pacific. V Air spokesperson Tang Dun-tai stated that V Air’s ticket prices are generally about 60% of those offered by conventional airlines, and passengers who successfully secure special promotional fares can enjoy discounts of 50% or more.

▲ Souvenir gifts given to passengers by V Air for the inaugural flight.

V Air Taipei–Manila Route
Departure from Taipei: Departs 17:00, Arrives 19:00
Departure from Manila: Departs 20:00, Arrives 22:00