TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Flights between Hualien and Taipei will be increased to help ease transport pressure caused by earthquake and storm damage to land transport links, the Hualien County Government said on Friday (Oct. 11)
The Hualien County Government said it plans for 20 weekly flights between Hualien and Taipei, with at least one airline offering daily flights, per CNA. This will be an increase from the current eight flights per week from four airlines, according to a press release.
The press release said that Hualien Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚) and Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) have worked to increase both domestic and international flight connections to the county. In December, the number of weekly flights to Taipei will increase to 28, and four round-trip flights from Hualien to Hong Kong per week will be launched.
On Friday, rail services and road links between Taipei and Hualien were open. However, the county government said heavy rain has caused mud and landslides that have blocked traffic many times since the massive April earthquake.
It said flights have become a vital link for Hualien. Recent disruptions were caused ahead of Typhoon Krathon on Sept. 30, when mudslides and rockfalls caused rail services to be suspended and roads to close.
