TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Multiple international flight routes operated by Tigerair out of Taichung International Airport have been canceled this week. 

Tigerair routes from Taichung to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Macao, and Busan have all been canceled due to problems with the applications to serve the international routes. Until approval can be obtained from the central government, Tigerair will suspend operations at Taichung airport, reported CNA.

Tigerair and the Taichung Travel and Tourism Bureau sought to assure the public that the route suspensions are only temporary. However, many officials in Taichung fear these difficulties will negatively impact tourism development in central Taiwan. 

The abrupt cancellation of routes comes as Tigerair publishes its third quarter earning’s report. The company had a successful third quarter with an average passenger load of 85% on its flights over the past three months, reported CNA.

The month of September was also the company’s highest earning month in a third-quarter report, with revenue of NT$1.26 billion (US$39 million) for the month, and a year-over-year increase of 17.8%. Total earnings for the third quarter of 2024 were reported at NT$4.42 billion (US$137 million), the highest for a single quarter in the company’s history. 

All indications are that the year’s final quarter will also be successful. CNA reported that the company expects to become listed as a publicly traded company by the end of the year.   

At a Taichung City Council meeting held on Friday (Oct. 11), lawmakers discussed the issue of the cancellation and how it might impact Taichung’s ability to draw international travelers. Several lawmakers noted that the decision to allow the flights to resume ultimately depends upon the central government. 

The city council’s general consensus is that, despite setbacks, the city will maintain its efforts to expand international flight offerings to residents and visitors alike. 

Tigerair began offering direct international flights to popular destinations from Taichung last May. Now, unspecified bureaucratic issues have led to the abrupt cancellation of these route offerings. 

Tigerair released a statement that it is has no plans to completely withdraw from serving Taichung airport. The airline is currently revising its route plans and intends to resume international flight services from Taichung pending government authorization, per CNA. 

A check of Tigerair’s booking website revealed there were no Tigerair flights out of Taichung, with the exception of those to Macao remaining available. Flights to Macao will be completely suspended from late October, with the last Tigerair flight returning from Macao to Taichung on Oct. 23.