Pingtung Airport may be shut down because of fewer flights

Service from Taipei to Pingtung Airport currently operates three times per week, with some observers noting flights carrying a mere 12 passengers, said a United Evening News report.

According to data compiled by the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the passenger occupancy rates for flights between Taipei and Pingtung during the period from Jan. 2009 to Sept. 2009 registered no more than 30 percent.

Ahead of next year's budgetary planning, lawmakers have suggested termination of airports with low usage rates and gate turnover.

Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Kuo Wen-cheng was cited as likening the empty airport as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, before proposing that the CAA terminate operations at Pingtung Airport. He also pointed to maintenance of ground operations costs, which include the 10 personnel on payroll to support the three flights that operate out of the airport.

Lee Hong-jun from the ruling party also noted opposition to the launch of the airport years ago at a time when the government insisted on backing the plan.

MOTC Political Deputy Minister Yeh Kuang-shih seconded the opinion and stressed that the government would reevaluate usage of the airport and get the consent of local residents before scrapping service.

The facility could be better utilized as a pilot training and aviation school or a recreational spot to help boost tourism, Yeh said.

Pingtung Deputy Magistrate Chung Chia-bin explained that the county government had suggested the conversion of the north terminal of the Pingtung Airport into a courier cargo airport over two years ago.

As to the rest of the facility and whether or not to discontinue passenger service would still require seeking public consent, added Chung, before acknowledging current use of the airport as a waste of resources.

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