Popular Taiwan Route to Pause at Month's End? County Confirms Temporary Suspension, Reveals Fastest Return Timeline

Hualien, the gateway to eastern Taiwan, is seeing new developments in its international air route network. The direct flight between Hualien and Incheon, South Korea, which resumed operations nearly nine months ago, is set to temporarily suspend service at the end of July, disappointing many planning trips to Korea. In response, the Hualien County Government's Tourism Division has stepped in to clarify, confirming a brief operational gap while emphasizing that the route is not being permanently discontinued.

Why is the direct flight from Hualien to Korea suddenly pausing? In response to local concerns about the suspension, Tourism Division Director Yu Ming-hsun stated that this adjustment does not mark the end of the route, but rather reflects a strategic decision by partner airline Aero K amid changing global operating conditions. Due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, international fuel prices have surged significantly. To balance operational costs, Aero K has internally reviewed its strategy and decided to shut down its Incheon operational base, relocating all operations back to its headquarters in Cheongju, South Korea.

Following the relocation, the airline must reapply for flight rights to various countries, a process expected to take approximately three months. Director Yu noted that the impact of this base shift is global—routes from other countries, including Japan, are also undergoing adjustments. The airline is now actively applying to restore direct flights to Korea from multiple locations.

When will operations resume? Regarding the most anticipated timeline, Yu revealed that the flight rights review process is expected to take three months, with the earliest possible resumption by late October. However, it is important to note that upon resumption, flights will land at Cheongju International Airport instead of Incheon International Airport.

Yu admitted that cultivating an international route is extremely challenging, and the three-month interruption will significantly impact tourism and the local economy in eastern Taiwan. The county government had previously urged the airline to initiate the flight rights application earlier to avoid a gap, but the airline expressed helplessness due to the sudden geopolitical tensions and soaring fuel prices.

In fact, the direct flight connection between Hualien and Korea has a long history. As early as 2019 (Minguo Year 108), Hualien launched direct flights to Incheon and Busan, achieving an average occupancy rate of 80%, with strong market response. However, the service was suspended the following year due to the global pandemic. Last year, the county government and Aero K signed a cooperation memorandum, and the direct flight resumed in November, restoring convenient access to Korea for Hualien residents.

Is a direct flight from Hualien to Japan still possible? Beyond the changes to the Korea route, many locals are also concerned about the progress of potential direct flights to Japan. Director Yu publicly addressed the current challenges. He explained that the global aviation industry is currently facing a dual shortage of aircraft and qualified pilots, resulting in supply falling short of demand, making it extremely difficult to secure stable, regular direct flights. Given these constraints, the county government has decided to flexibly adjust its strategy—shifting focus to securing irregular charter flights to continue attracting Japanese tourists to Hualien.