United Airlines announced on Monday, November 19th, that it will launch a direct flight between Taipei and Guam starting April 2nd of the following year. This new route is expected to significantly boost tourism in both destinations and strengthen ties between Taiwan and the US territory.

Guam Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio expressed optimism about the new route, stating that Guam's tourism industry has already recovered to 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Tenorio believes the direct flight will further stimulate tourism growth and facilitate medical tourism for Guam residents seeking healthcare services abroad.

He added that Guam could become a new vacation destination for US military personnel and their families stationed in Taiwan.

Kenichi Kiriyama, United Airlines' Sales Director for Japan, Micronesia, Philippines, and Taiwan, highlighted the significance of connecting two of the most beautiful destinations in the Asia Pacific region. "Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a cultural and economic hub with a population of 2.5 million. We expect Taipei to serve as a transfer hub for travelers from Southeast Asia," he said.

United Airlines plans to operate the Taipei-Guam route twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. However, the airline noted that the flight schedule is subject to government approval.

Meanwhile, China Airlines announced last month that it will temporarily resume its Taiwan-Guam route from next Wednesday until February 2nd due to strong demand. The airline will also operate two flights per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

In separate news, the Taoyuan International Airport Corporation (TIAC) projected that passenger traffic at Taoyuan International Airport will recover to pre-pandemic levels next year due to the rapid increase in travel between East Asia and North America.

TIAC Vice President Yeh Chung-li stated in a press conference on November 19th that the airport had served 39 million passengers by the end of September and expects to surpass 40 million by the following Monday. Yeh added that if the current growth trend continues, the airport could see 45 million passengers this year.

"Passenger traffic at Taoyuan Airport is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels next year," Yeh said. He noted that the airport handled 48.68 million passengers in 2019.

Yeh attributed the expected growth in passenger traffic to the strong recovery of travel between North America and East Asia and the launch of new North American routes by Taiwanese airlines.

The vice president also mentioned a significant increase in transit passengers from Southeast Asia. Before the pandemic, transit passengers accounted for only about 10% of the airport's total passenger traffic. However, with the reopening of borders, transit passengers now make up 15-17% of the total, with most arriving from the Philippines, Vietnam, or Thailand.

Yeh further stated that the opening of the North Concourse of Terminal 3 in June next year, which will add eight new boarding gates, will significantly improve the airport's operational efficiency.

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