Annual Load Factor Surpasses 90%! Kaohsiung to Ishigaki and Komatsu Celebrate Maiden Flights — Why Is Tigerair Taiwan Doubling Down on Ishigaki Routes?

Tigerair Taiwan deepened its presence in southern Taiwan by hosting a dual-route inauguration ceremony at Kaohsiung International Airport yesterday (2) for the new 'Kaohsiung–Ishigaki' and 'Kaohsiung–Komatsu' flights. The addition of these two new Japanese routes further expands Tigerair Taiwan’s network from Kaohsiung, reflecting a strong rebound in international travel demand from southern Taiwan post-pandemic.

Tigerair Taiwan Chairman Huang Shih-hui stated that the number of flights departing from Kaohsiung has more than doubled, increasing from 26 weekly round-trips before the pandemic to 54 currently. With the southern market continuing to heat up, she also revealed that further route and flight expansions are possible in the future.

Ishigaki has become one of Tigerair Taiwan’s key Japanese destinations in recent years. Huang noted that when the 'Taoyuan–Ishigaki' route launched last year, market demand was so strong that travelers urged the airline to increase frequency beyond two weekly flights and operate year-round. While other carriers previously limited service to summer-only, Tigerair Taiwan has upgraded the Taoyuan–Ishigaki route to four weekly flights, operating continuously in both summer and winter seasons.

Huang revealed that since its launch, the Taoyuan–Ishigaki route has maintained an average load factor exceeding 95%, with monthly load factors consistently above 90%. Performance during this year’s summer peak season has further improved. This stable demand has become a crucial foundation for extending the Ishigaki network to Kaohsiung.

With the addition of Ishigaki and Komatsu, Tigerair Taiwan’s Japanese network from Kaohsiung continues to expand. The airline now serves Sapporo (New Chitose), Sendai, Tokyo Narita, Nagoya, Osaka (Kansai), Okayama, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Okinawa, Ishigaki, and Komatsu from Kaohsiung, offering more direct flight options for travelers in southern Taiwan.

Tigerair Taiwan aims to capture the growing outbound tourism market in southern Taiwan through a denser route network. In addition to expanding destinations, the airline will continue monitoring market demand and load performance as key indicators for future flight increases. Huang recalled her previous statement to the mayor of Ishigaki City: if load factors exceed 85%, the airline would consider adding flights. With the successful launch of the Kaohsiung route, that commitment has now been fulfilled.

Expanding in central and southern Taiwan is just the first step. Tigerair Taiwan plans to introduce its third-generation fleet starting in 2028, further enhancing its operational scale and route development potential. To meet future operational needs, the airline will recruit 30 cabin crew members in the second half of 2026, proactively building human resources for future expansion.

Kaohsiung Airport is also undergoing upgrades. A major expansion project with a total budget of approximately NT$88 billion is underway, aiming to significantly increase overall passenger handling capacity. As airport infrastructure improves and airlines add more international routes, southern Taiwan’s international aviation market is expected to gain new momentum for growth.

The dual-route maiden flight ceremony on the 2nd received high attention from both Taiwan and Japan. In addition to Tigerair Taiwan Chairman Huang Shih-hui, CEO Chiu Chang-hsin, COO Lai Chun-te, and Commercial Director & Spokesperson Hsu Chih-yuan, Ishigaki City Mayor Nakayama Yoshitaka flew in on the inaugural flight to jointly witness the launch of the Kaohsiung–Ishigaki route.

The event opened with a performance of Tigerair Taiwan’s newly released theme song 'Go Out and Play' by the in-house dance group 'tigerdancers,' kicking off the dual-route launch celebration. The Kaohsiung–Ishigaki inaugural flight was celebrated simultaneously in both Taiwan and Japan. This morning, an inauguration ceremony was held at Ishigaki Airport, attended by Tigerair Taiwan CEO Chiu Chang-hsin, who exchanged greetings with local representatives. After the ceremony, Chiu and Mayor Nakayama boarded the inaugural Ishigaki–Kaohsiung flight and arrived in Taiwan to participate in the Kaohsiung International Airport celebration.

Tigerair Taiwan held a grand opening ceremony for the Kaohsiung–Ishigaki and Kaohsiung–Komatsu routes at Kaohsiung International Airport on the 2nd. (Photo courtesy of Tigerair Taiwan)

Additionally, Chairman Huang will board the inaugural Kaohsiung–Komatsu flight today (3) to attend the local launch event in Japan and meet with Ishikawa Prefecture Governor Yamano Noriyoshi, further strengthening cultural and tourism exchanges between Taiwan and Japan’s Hokuriku region.

Huang stated that Ishigaki is renowned for its ocean scenery and island charm, while Komatsu serves as a gateway to Japan’s Hokuriku region, Kaga Onsen, and surrounding natural attractions. With the Taoyuan–Ishigaki and Taoyuan–Komatsu routes already operating stably, the addition of the Kaohsiung dual routes not only enhances travel convenience for southern Taiwan residents but also allows Japanese travelers to plan more flexible itineraries in Taiwan via dual entry and exit points in Taoyuan and Kaohsiung.

To celebrate the launch of the two new routes, Kaohsiung International Airport held a water salute ceremony for the inaugural flights, symbolizing the official takeoff of the new routes. Passengers on the inaugural Kaohsiung departure flights also received commemorative postcards, creating a lasting memento of this new journey.

Tigerair Taiwan currently operates routes to Japan, South Korea, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam, and is the Taiwanese carrier with the most destinations in Japan and South Korea. As it continues to expand its central and southern network and advances plans for a new fleet, Tigerair Taiwan will keep seeking new market growth opportunities.