Travelers from southern Taiwan now have easier access to Japan with China Airlines' new Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route!

▲ China Airlines' first flight on the Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route on the 25th. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines)

By Cai Wenjun, Reporter / Comprehensive Report

Travelers from southern Taiwan will find it more convenient to visit Japan in the future. China Airlines will successively launch the Kaohsiung–Kumamoto and Kaohsiung–Fukuoka routes starting October 25 and 26 respectively, with the Tainan–Osaka route also opening on October 28, providing southern Taiwan travelers with greater convenience and options.

To celebrate the launch of the Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route, China Airlines and Kumamoto Prefecture jointly held grand inaugural ceremonies at both Kaohsiung’s Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) and Kumamoto Airport on the 25th, welcoming the 158 inaugural passengers aboard the “Kumamoto Hero” themed flight.

▲ The cabin of the inaugural flight was also specially decorated with Kumamoto Hero themes. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines)

China Airlines Chairman Sun Hong-xiang stated that flights between Taiwan and Kyushu, Japan, only take just over two hours. Since 2013, China Airlines has been collaborating with Kumamoto Prefecture, progressing from irregular to regular chartered flights, and now to scheduled services—a gradual development. The launch of the regular Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route holds two major significances: first, the Kyushu tourism market is gradually maturing and holds great potential for growth; second, there is a solid passenger base from southern Taiwan, and the airline will continue to evaluate market demand and flight scheduling to assess the development of new routes.

With the newly launched Kaohsiung–Kumamoto and Kaohsiung–Fukuoka routes, China Airlines now operates scheduled flights to four Kyushu prefectures: Fukuoka, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto. In addition, Mandarin Airlines will operate its first charter flights from Taichung to Oita in October and November, as well as irregular charters to Nagasaki and Saga, offering future travelers to Kyushu even more diverse choices.