TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tigerair Taiwan said on Wednesday it will add new routes in Japan, including Tottori in Honshu, Obihiro in Hokkaido, Oita in Kyushu, and Kobe.
Tigerair Chair Chen Han-ming (陳漢銘) said the airline operates 20 destinations in Japan. Since April, the airline has observed a significant increase in Japanese passengers to Taiwan, with a 35% growth compared to the overall market's 22% increase, per CNA.
Chen said that Japanese passengers account for 50% of travelers on the Okayama route. This demand has led to an increase in flights to Okayama from three weekly services to 12.
The airline has seen a significant surge in Japanese membership, adding over 18,000 members in 2023 and more than 31,000 last year. Its Japanese membership has now surpassed 100,000.
Tigerair Chief Commercial Officer Hsu Chih-yuan (許致遠) said the airline is set to expand into Southeast Asia this year, including Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia. Hsu said the previously suspended routes to Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand will be resumed.
To streamline the immigration process for travelers to Japan, Taoyuan International Airport has implemented advance entry confirmation from Thursday until Feb. 12. Passengers on 16 Japanese routes operated by China Airlines, Eva Air, Starlux Airlines, and Tigerair Taiwan can utilize this service.
Chen added the company had a record-breaking revenue of NT$16.423 billion (US$520 million) last year. The airline is aiming for NT$18 billion in revenue this year.