New flights between Taichung (RMQ) and Taitung (TTT)?

Travel Taiwan Travel
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Exciting news for increased connectivity across the country!

Key points:

  1. There’s a proposal to increase flights between Taichung and eastern Taiwan (Hualien/Taitung). (To be clear, there are already flights between Taichung and Hualien, but there’s currently no commercial service between Taichung and Taitung.)
  2. This aims to improve travel options for indigenous people and boost tourism in the east.
  3. The Ministry of Transportation is open to allowing charter flights as a trial.
  4. If successful, this could lead to regular scheduled flights in the future.

This could be great news for anyone living in central Taiwan or planning to visit the east coast. It might make trips to Hualien or Taitung much more convenient.

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If they do this maybe I will finally visit green island, which I’ve been wanting to do for years. I can’t understand for the life of me, why we don’t have direct flights from Taipei to those islands

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Nice!

Yeah, if flights to TTT (Taitung) are introduced, this can also bring traffic to Green Island and Orchid Island.

If they schedule the flights strategically, they can make TTT a good hub for travelers from RMQ wanting to transfer to GNI (Green Island Airport) or KYD (Lanyu Airport / Orchid Island Airport), which are both served by Daily Air.

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Orchid and Green island are top notch diving places apparently. It’s a real shame it’s easier to go to SEA or Okinawa than those places, even for domestic travelers.

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Yeah! Well if flights from RMQ really kick off, then Taiwan’s two largest cities will be connected to Taitung by air (there are already flights from TSA), and hopefully more people can discover Green Island and Orchid Island.

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Sad these flights never took off

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formosa airlines used to fly from taipei to orchid island

Yes, Formosa Airlines used to fly from Taipei to Orchid Island

. The airline, originally named Yung Shing Airlines, operated passenger flights between the two locations using aircraft like the Britten-Norman Islander and Dornier 228.

This service no longer exists for the following reasons:

  • Merger: Formosa Airlines merged with Mandarin Airlines in 1999.
  • Change in flight routes: No airlines currently offer direct flights between Taipei and Orchid Island.
  • Current operations: To fly to Orchid Island, travelers must first take a flight from Taipei to Taitung, and then take a propeller plane with Daily Air from Taitung to Orchid Island.

AI Overview

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Yes, Formosa Airlines used to fly from Taipei to Green Island and is currently the only airline that flies that route, though it has expanded its operations since its founding in 1966. The airline started with crop dusting before expanding to passenger flights and now has daily flights between Taipei and Green Island.

  • Current status:

Formosa Airlines is the only airline currently flying between Taipei and Green Island.

  • Historical context:

The airline started as Yung Shing Airlines in 1966, initially offering crop dusting services before expanding to passenger flights.

  • Fleet:

The airline uses small planes, such as the Dornier 228, for its flights to Green Island.

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apparently no more direct flights from taipei to green island
AI Overview

No airlines fly directly from Taipei to Green Island; however, there are indirect routes. You can take a connecting flight from a larger airport in Taiwan, such as Taitung, or a multi-modal journey involving a train, bus, and ferry.

Flight options

Several airlines offer flights from Taipei (specifically, from airports like Taoyuan International Airport - TPE) to Green Island (GNI), but these have at least one stop. Popular connecting hubs are often in Taitung (TTT).

Airlines like Mandarin Airlines and Uni Airways fly from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) to Taitung (TTT) five times a day. From Taitung, you can then take a local flight to Green Island with airlines like Taiwan Airlines or Formosa Airlines.

While no direct flights exist from Taipei, some information sources claim direct flights are available, which can be misleading. It is essential to verify direct flight availability before booking.

Other travel options

A more complex but often cheaper option is to take a train from Taipei to Taitung, followed by a bus to the Fugang Ferry Terminal, and then a ferry to Green Island.

You can also take a bus from Taipei to a coastal town like Taitung, then take a ferry to Green Island.

Booking tips

  • Book in advance: To get the best prices, it is recommended to book your flight and hotel at least a month in advance.
  • Be flexible: Flying during the off-season or on weekdays can result in lower prices.
  • Consider alternatives: If you are not on a tight schedule, the train, bus, and ferry combination is a good alternative to flying.
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back in the 70s and 80s i remember some small airline operating from sungshan to orchid island and sungshan to green island once or twice a day. Using dornier 228 small aircraft but it wasnt that popular because people would rather fly to taitung in larger aircraft and then transfer there to the small planes.

probably was a great scenic flight though in the small planes.