Taipei: China's plans to conduct live-fire drills around Taiwan on Tuesday are set to disrupt travel for more than 100,000 passengers on hundreds of international flights, as estimated by the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) on Monday night. A total of 84 domestic flights have also been canceled, affecting around 6,000 passengers traveling to and from Kinmen Island and the Matsu Islands.
According to Focus Taiwan, the CAA has issued warnings of potential delays for international flights between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the scheduled People's Liberation Army exercises. Delays may extend beyond 6 p.m. as airlines work through a backlog of affected flights. The agency noted that 296 international flights are set to depart from Taiwan airports, with 265 flights arriving between those hours. Additionally, nearly 300 international flights are expected to fly over Taiwan during this period, leading to significant airspace restrictions within the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR).
While Taiwan has collaborated with adjacent FIRs to implement flow control measures, the CAA has cautioned that significant delays are still anticipated. Airlines have been directed to notify passengers in advance and ensure that aircraft are adequately fueled before departure. Taoyuan International Airport's flight information system reported no cancellations for Tuesday departures as of Monday night.
The Eastern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army announced on Monday the commencement of drills surrounding Taiwan. These exercises, including live-fire drills, are scheduled to continue until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with designated zones marked for aircraft and ships to avoid.
Domestically, UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines, Taiwan's primary domestic airlines, have confirmed cancellations and adjustments for services to Kinmen and Matsu scheduled before 6 p.m. on Tuesday. UNI Air has canceled all Taiwan-Matsu flights and modified schedules for the Kinmen route, adding six extra evening flights. Passengers are advised to check for updates on the airline's website or mobile app before heading to the airport.
Mandarin Airlines has canceled its Taipei Songshan Airport to Nangan flights in Matsu on Tuesday and has announced cancellations for Taiwan-Kinmen flights scheduled before 6 p.m., with additional services to be updated on its website.
The Taiwan-held island groups of Matsu and Kinmen, located near China's coast, depend heavily on air travel for connectivity to Taiwan proper. The military drills have the potential to impact flight operations in the surrounding airspace. According to the PLA, the exercises, named Justice Mission 2025, are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan, with live-fire drills scheduled in five designated maritime and airspace zones. Flight operations for domestic routes to Kinmen and Matsu from Taiwan proper, including those from Taipei Songshan Airport, were reported to be normal on Monday.