Taiwan Taoyuan Aims To Become Regional Hub

                    (Taoyuan- Airport.com)

Taiwan has ambitious plans for a new, regional air hub to be named “aerotropolis.” The venue will be Taiwan’s Taoyuan airport which will get a third terminal and see the creation of an industrial park and a pilot free trade zone. South China Morning Post reports that the project will encompass over 7,000 hectares and will be the biggest infrastructure project in 30 years.

The project which has been on hold since 1990 looks like it will now gather momentum. A steady flow of mainland visitors and the influx of tourist brought by the ever-growing budget airline sector has created the need for increased capacity and spurred the development project. However, what really seems to have given the project the green light is agreement by the PRC to give real consideration to the feasibility of transit stops for Chinese airlines heading to other destinations such as New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. Such transit stops would also relieve pressure from Beijing and Shanghai airports. China’s agreement to study the issue was made in meetings held in Changsha, PRC on February 20-21, 2014 held for the purpose of better implementing existing accords between the two countries.

Want China Times reported that on February 16, 2014, Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou visited the port of Taiwan and spoke of plans for a smart distribution system to revolutionize business and support the pilot free trade zones