According to Central News Agency, Mandarin Airlines plans to reduce flights on its Hualien routes starting October 1, 2026, due to low passenger load factors. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration previously approved moderate flight reductions under poor booking conditions, allowing capacity to shift to other high-demand domestic routes. Both Mandarin Airlines and Uni Air had recently applied to suspend their domestic Hualien routes due to poor passenger volumes.
Mandarin Airlines Chairman Chen Ta-chun stated that the Kaohsiung-Hualien route will initially be reduced from seven to five weekly flights, while the Taichung-Hualien route will maintain three weekly flights. Total combined services could eventually be reduced to a minimum of five weekly flights. The released capacity from Kaohsiung-Hualien is expected to be redirected to Penghu, while Taichung-Hualien reductions may support Kinmen route adjustments.
