TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tigerair Taiwan announced Tuesday (Nov. 12) that it will launch direct flights between Kaohsiung and Japan's Hokkaido starting Jan. 21, 2025.
The route will operate twice weekly. Outbound flight IT260 will depart Kaohsiung International Airport at 8 a.m. every Tuesday and Saturday, and return flight IT261 will depart New Chitose Airport at 1:55 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday.
To celebrate the new route, Tigerair Taiwan is offering a promotional fare of NT$3,899 (US$120) for a one-way ticket, excluding taxes, from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. Thursday. The travel period is from Jan. 21 to March 29, 2025.
Hokkaido, known for its stunning winter landscapes, will be blanketed in snow from late December to March. The region offers a variety of winter activities, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snow festivals held in January and February, most notably the Sapporo Snow Festival, per Sapporo Travel.
Tigerair Taiwan has significantly expanded its flight network from Kaohsiung since the pandemic, adding 10 new destinations, including popular cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The airline now offers 16 routes from Kaohsiung, up from six in 2019.
Kaohsiung's winter flight operations have recovered to 93% of pre-pandemic levels, while 73% of routes and 75% of shipping volume have been restored, according to Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆).
Lai encouraged Tigerair Taiwan to establish a flight base in Kaohsiung. The airline has committed to conducting a comprehensive assessment of the viability of using Kaohsiung International Airport as its primary hub.
To boost air travel, the city government and the Civil Aeronautics Administration are collaborating with airlines to increase flight routes. China Airlines and Tigerair intend to increase their fleet sizes and offer more flights serving Kaohsiung to cater to the needs of passengers in southern Taiwan.