Taoyuan: The northern boarding concourse of Taoyuan International Airport’s long-awaited Terminal 3 will officially open on December 25 following nearly four weeks of trial operations, the airport operator said.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taoyuan International Airport Corp. recently announced that an opening ceremony will be held on the same day to mark the formal launch of the concourse. The northern boarding concourse is the first completed facility in the Terminal 3 complex and has been in trial operation since December 1.

Construction of the main Terminal 3 building and the southern boarding concourse is scheduled for completion and opening in 2027, as stated by airport authorities. Transportation and Communications Minister Chen Shih-kai informed CNA that he has visited the site several times during the trial period, with his most recent visit on December 15.

Chen noted that when the first inbound flights arrived, many passengers and flight crews were surprised upon entering the new concourse, often unaware they were among the first to use the facility. Inbound passenger flow has been smooth so far, with escalators and large elevators effectively handling traffic, including passengers with reduced mobility.

Chen mentioned that feedback from passengers, airlines, and flight crews during the trial phase will be reviewed ahead of the official opening and will also serve as a reference for the rest of the Terminal 3 complex. According to the airport’s website, the Terminal 3 project is based on a government-approved airport development plan and implementation program in 2011 and is intended to accommodate rapid growth in passenger numbers while improving service quality.

Terminal 3 is Taiwan’s largest single public construction project since the major infrastructure initiatives of the 1970s. Its design was selected through an international competition won by British architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.