December 7, 2016, 12:05 am TWN
TAIPEI - Charter flights between Hualien in eastern Taiwan and Hong Kong were launched on Tuesday, providing more convenient air links and transit services for both sides, Hualien County government announced on Tuesday.
The flights operated by Hong Kong carrier Hong Kong Express will initially fly two round-trip flights per week in December, increasing to four starting in January, said Peng Wei-tsu, acting director of the county’s tourism department.
Initial response to the new service was positive, with the first two round-trip flights fully booked and the remaining December flights currently 80 percent booked, he said.
The direct flight service could make Hualien a more attractive destination for tourists, while Hualien residents will also be able to travel to Hong Kong more easily and fly on to Tokyo, China or other Southeast Asian cities, said Peng.