Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
Encyclopedia
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport , the largest airport in Taiwan
, is an international airport
located in Dayuan Township
, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
. It is one of four Taiwanese airports with regular international flights, and is by far the busiest international air entry point amongst them. It is the main international hub for China Airlines
and EVA Air
.
The airport opened for commercial operations in 1979 and is an important regional trans-shipment center, passenger hub, and gateway for destinations in mainland China
and the rest of Asia. The airport was formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (CKS International Airport) until the name was changed in 2006 to its current name.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is one of two airports that serves Taipei
and northern Taiwan; the other, Taipei Songshan Airport
, is located within Taipei City limits and served Taipei as its international airport until 1979. Now, it serves chartered flights, most of which are to and from mainland China (see Cross-strait charter), domestic flights, and some international flights.
Taiwan Taoyuan handled a total of 25,114,418 passengers in 2010. It is the fifteenth-busiest air freight hub
in the world and thirteenth-busiest airport by international passenger traffic
.
Chiang Kai-shek
until 2006. In Chinese, its former name was literally "Chung-Cheng (Zhongzheng) International Airport", where Chung-Cheng is the legal given name which Chiang Kai-shek had used since the 1910s. In Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek is associated with the Chinese Nationalist Party
or Kuomintang
and its many years of one-party authoritarian rule
. Local officials in Taoyuan County and members of the Pan-Green Coalition
often referred to the hub by the name originally associated with it: "Taoyuan International Airport". News organizations and local residents sometimes combined the two commonly used names as "Taoyuan Chung-Cheng Airport."
The Executive Yuan
of then-President
Chen Shui-bian
's administration officially approved the name Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for the hub on September 6, 2006. The opposition Kuomintang
, which together with its political allies
held a one-vote majority in the Legislative Yuan
, decried the change and proposed "Taiwan Taoyuan Chiang Kai-shek International Airport" instead. The disagreement, like those affecting the names of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
and other Taiwan landmarks, stands as another manifestation of the trend known as Taiwan localization among pan-Green officials and desinicization by Pan-Blue Coalition
. The media in mainland China
has always referred to the airport as "Taoyuan International Airport" so as to avoid mentioning Chiang Kai-shek. Despite the name change, the airport is still known as Chiang Kai-Shek (CKS) International Airport in all official records of IATA.
— had become overcrowded and could not be expanded due to space limitations. Thus, a new airport was planned to alleviate congestion. The new airport opened (with Terminal 1) on February 26, 1979, as part of the Ten Major Construction Projects
pursued by the government in the 1970s. The airport was originally planned under the name Taoyuan International Airport but was later changed to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in memory of former President
Chiang Kai-shek.
The airport is the main hub of China Airlines
, the ROC's flag carrier
, as well as EVA Air
, a private airline established in the early 1990s. Overcrowding of the airport in recent years prompted the construction of Terminal 2, which was opened on July 29, 2000, with half of its gates operational; EVA Air was the first airline to move into Terminal 2. The remaining gates opened on January 21, 2005 for China Airlines. There are plans for the construction of a third terminal, which will be built to alleviate congestion in Terminals 1 and 2.
In January 2006, a Foreign Laborers' Service Center was set up to provide airport pick-up services and serve the needs of migrant workers. There are service desks in the Arrival lobby of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and in the Departure lobby of Terminal 1. Service hotlines in Vietnamese
, Thai
, English
, and Indonesian
are provided.
. The five-story, 169,500-m2 terminal, along with the airport, opened in 1979 to relieve the overcrowded Taipei Songshan Airport
. All international flights were moved to the airport following the completion of this terminal. Terminal 1 featured 22 gates. A row of 11 gates are located on the north end of the airfield facing the north runway and another row of 11 gates are located on the south end airfield facing the south runway. The two concourses that contained the airplane gates are linked together by a main building that contained the check-in areas, baggage claim, passport immigration areas, and security checkpoint areas. Together they form a giant "H". All gates are equipped with jetways. Gates located at the end of the concourses have one jetway
and gates not located at the end of the concourses have two jetways. The terminal used to be very white in color when it first opened. As the years gradually passed, the facade and color is becoming more tan and yellow colored due to air pollution in Taipei.
After the completion of Terminal 2, some gates from Terminal 1 were removed to make space for Terminal 2. Currently Terminal 1 has 18 gates. Alphabetical letters were introduced when Terminal 2 was completed. The north concourse is now Concourse A and the south concourse is now Concourse B. Before Terminal 2, gates were numbered from 1 to 22.
The Southern and Northern Concourses are also known as Concourse C and Concourse D, respectively. Terminals 1 and 2 are connected by two short people mover
lines, with one from Concourse A to D, and the other from B to C.
The airport is operated by the Taoyuan International Airport Corporation
, a company wholly owned by the Government of Taiwan
. The Civil Aeronautics Administration
(CAA) is responsible for the provision of air traffic control services, certification of Taiwan
registered aircraft, and the regulation of general civil aviation
activities.
The airport has two parallel runways, with one 3660 meters in length and another 3350 meters in length and both 60 meters wide, enabling them to cater to the next generation of aircraft. The south runway has been given a Category I Precision Approach
, while the north runway has the higher Category II Precision Approach
, which allows pilots to land in only 350 metre visibility. The two runways have an ultimate capacity of over 60 aircraft movements an hour. The Airport is upgrading ATC and runways.
There are 41 frontal stands at the main passenger concourse, 15 remote stands and 25 cargo stands. The airport was the seventh busiest for passenger traffic
in Asia in 2010, and the world's fourteenth busiest for cargo traffic
in 2008.
The operation of scheduled air services to and from Taoyuan is facilitated by air services agreements between Taiwan
and other countries. Since the opening of RCTP, the Taiwan Government has implemented a policy of progressive liberalisation of air services with the intention of promoting consumer choice and competition. Many low-cost airlines have started various regional routes to compete head-on with full-service carriers on trunk routes.
The airport's long term expansion opportunities are subject to variables. An NTD 300 billion proposal to build a third runway and a third terminal has been under feasibility study and consultation. However, building a new runway would be very expensive as it would involve a huge compensation for acquiring land.
, a driverless people mover
system. The train transports both passengers who have cleared security and those who have not through separate train cars.
) 3 days before use.
(TIAS) and Evergreen Airline Services (EGAS).
TTIA currently handles over 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. There are two air cargo terminals in the airport: one operated by Taiwan Air Cargo Terminals Limited
and the other operated by Evergreen Air Cargo Services.
, at a time or 3 Boeing 747
s and another Airbus A330
at a time.
, Taoyuan City
, Jhongli, Taichung
, Banqiao, Changhua, and THSR
's Taoyuan Station
. Bus terminals are present at both terminals.
and Zhongli, Taoyuan
. Express services will allow for travel to Taipei Station in 35 minutes. The Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taoyuan Station
is about 8 km (5 mi) away and is accessible by shuttle bus. When the Airport Access MRT System is completed, the station will also be accessible by rail.
.
has its headquarters, CAL Park
,) on the grounds of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. CAL Park, located at the airport entrance forms a straight line with Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the future Terminal 3.
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, which opened in November 2009. The 360-room hotel is equipped with restaurants, recreation and fitness centers, and a hair salon and spa.
is located on the south-eastern area of the airport between the main freeway entrance and the terminals. It was built in 1981 by Boeing
under CAA contract. Many retired Republic of China Air Force
fighters are represented here. Its purpose is to preserve aviation history and provide public understanding of the civil aviation industry.
) at a cost of NT$10.7 billion. The runways will undergo their first major resurfacing and length extension in 30 years. Navigation facilities will also be upgraded to reduce the effects of bad weather on airport operations. Runway and navigation aid improvement projects are expected to be completed by May 2014. A high-tech US$6.4 million (NT$180 million) fence, equipped with a sensor and tracking system, will be installed around the airport by mid-2012.
As part of the "Taoyuan Aerotropolis" plan (scheduled for completion in 2020), existing terminals will be expanded, a new terminal will be constructed, an aerospace industrial part will be established, and special zones for cargo, passenger and logistic services will be developed. The Taoyuan Airport MRT System is scheduled to open in 2013, and will link the airport to Taipei
and Taoyuan County
by rail.
has allocated NT$60 billion (US$1.9 billion) for construction of the new terminal. Bidding is expected to open at the end of 2011. A satellite terminal for check-in and additional buildings for auxiliary facilities are planned as well.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, is an international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
located in Dayuan Township
Dayuan, Taoyuan
Dayuan is a rural, coastal township in northwestern Taoyuan County, Taiwan . It is the site of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the main international airport serving northern Taiwan.-Overview:* Area: 87.3925 km²...
, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. It is one of four Taiwanese airports with regular international flights, and is by far the busiest international air entry point amongst them. It is the main international hub for China Airlines
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
and EVA Air
EVA Air
EVA Airways Corporation "; ) is an airline based at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, Taiwan, operating passenger and dedicated cargo services to over 40 international destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. EVA Air is largely privately owned and flies a fully...
.
The airport opened for commercial operations in 1979 and is an important regional trans-shipment center, passenger hub, and gateway for destinations in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
and the rest of Asia. The airport was formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (CKS International Airport) until the name was changed in 2006 to its current name.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is one of two airports that serves Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and northern Taiwan; the other, Taipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
, is located within Taipei City limits and served Taipei as its international airport until 1979. Now, it serves chartered flights, most of which are to and from mainland China (see Cross-strait charter), domestic flights, and some international flights.
Taiwan Taoyuan handled a total of 25,114,418 passengers in 2010. It is the fifteenth-busiest air freight hub
World's busiest airports by cargo traffic
The world's thirty busiest airports by cargo traffic for various periods . Numbers listed refer to loaded and unloaded freight in metric tonnes.-2010 final statistics:...
in the world and thirteenth-busiest airport by international passenger traffic
World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic
The following is a list of the world's busiest airports by international passenger traffic.London Heathrow has been the busiest since 2000-2010 year-to-date statistics:Airports Council International's year-to-date figures are as follows....
.
Origin of the name
The airport, originally planned as Taoyuan International Airport, bore the name of late PresidentPresident of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
until 2006. In Chinese, its former name was literally "Chung-Cheng (Zhongzheng) International Airport", where Chung-Cheng is the legal given name which Chiang Kai-shek had used since the 1910s. In Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek is associated with the Chinese Nationalist Party
Chinese political parties
The first major political party in China was the Kuomintang which moved to Taiwan in 1949. It was founded in Guangdong Province on August 25, 1912 from a union of several revolutionary groups. The Republic of China was founded by Kuomintang's leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen later that year...
or Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
and its many years of one-party authoritarian rule
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
. Local officials in Taoyuan County and members of the Pan-Green Coalition
Pan-Green Coalition
The Pan-Green Coalition or Pan-Green Camp, is an informal political alliance of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party , Taiwan Solidarity Union , and the minor Taiwan Independence Party...
often referred to the hub by the name originally associated with it: "Taoyuan International Airport". News organizations and local residents sometimes combined the two commonly used names as "Taoyuan Chung-Cheng Airport."
The Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
of then-President
President of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
's administration officially approved the name Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for the hub on September 6, 2006. The opposition Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
, which together with its political allies
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
held a one-vote majority in the Legislative Yuan
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
, decried the change and proposed "Taiwan Taoyuan Chiang Kai-shek International Airport" instead. The disagreement, like those affecting the names of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attractions erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China ....
and other Taiwan landmarks, stands as another manifestation of the trend known as Taiwan localization among pan-Green officials and desinicization by Pan-Blue Coalition
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
. The media in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
has always referred to the airport as "Taoyuan International Airport" so as to avoid mentioning Chiang Kai-shek. Despite the name change, the airport is still known as Chiang Kai-Shek (CKS) International Airport in all official records of IATA.
History
In the 1970s, the original airport in Taipei City — Taipei Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
— had become overcrowded and could not be expanded due to space limitations. Thus, a new airport was planned to alleviate congestion. The new airport opened (with Terminal 1) on February 26, 1979, as part of the Ten Major Construction Projects
Ten Major Construction Projects
The Ten Major Construction Projects were national infrastructure projects during the 1970s in Taiwan. The government believed the state lacked key utilities such as highways, seaports, airports, and power plants. Moreover, Taiwan was experiencing significant effects from the 1973 oil crisis...
pursued by the government in the 1970s. The airport was originally planned under the name Taoyuan International Airport but was later changed to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in memory of former President
President of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
Chiang Kai-shek.
The airport is the main hub of China Airlines
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
, the ROC's flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
, as well as EVA Air
EVA Air
EVA Airways Corporation "; ) is an airline based at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, Taiwan, operating passenger and dedicated cargo services to over 40 international destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. EVA Air is largely privately owned and flies a fully...
, a private airline established in the early 1990s. Overcrowding of the airport in recent years prompted the construction of Terminal 2, which was opened on July 29, 2000, with half of its gates operational; EVA Air was the first airline to move into Terminal 2. The remaining gates opened on January 21, 2005 for China Airlines. There are plans for the construction of a third terminal, which will be built to alleviate congestion in Terminals 1 and 2.
In January 2006, a Foreign Laborers' Service Center was set up to provide airport pick-up services and serve the needs of migrant workers. There are service desks in the Arrival lobby of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and in the Departure lobby of Terminal 1. Service hotlines in Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
, Thai
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
are provided.
Terminals
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport currently has two terminals which are connected by two, short people movers. A third terminal is planned, and a rapid transit system currently under construction will link the terminals together underground.Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is the original passenger terminal of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The design of the building is based on the main terminal of Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
. The five-story, 169,500-m2 terminal, along with the airport, opened in 1979 to relieve the overcrowded Taipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
. All international flights were moved to the airport following the completion of this terminal. Terminal 1 featured 22 gates. A row of 11 gates are located on the north end of the airfield facing the north runway and another row of 11 gates are located on the south end airfield facing the south runway. The two concourses that contained the airplane gates are linked together by a main building that contained the check-in areas, baggage claim, passport immigration areas, and security checkpoint areas. Together they form a giant "H". All gates are equipped with jetways. Gates located at the end of the concourses have one jetway
Jetway
A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside...
and gates not located at the end of the concourses have two jetways. The terminal used to be very white in color when it first opened. As the years gradually passed, the facade and color is becoming more tan and yellow colored due to air pollution in Taipei.
After the completion of Terminal 2, some gates from Terminal 1 were removed to make space for Terminal 2. Currently Terminal 1 has 18 gates. Alphabetical letters were introduced when Terminal 2 was completed. The north concourse is now Concourse A and the south concourse is now Concourse B. Before Terminal 2, gates were numbered from 1 to 22.
Terminal 1 renovation
Terminal 1 is also currently undergoing a $57.4 million renovation that is expected to be completed by 2011. The renovation includes a new facelift (designed by Japanese architect Norihiko Dan) and a new modern and stylish interior. It will also include construction of dividing walls on the east and west sides of the terminal, renovation of the arrival and departure halls, and construction of new parking garages. It will double its floor area, expand the number of check-in counters, and have enlarged shopping areas. It is expected to increase Terminal 1's capacity from 12 million to 15 million passengers per year when completed. The renovation will take place during late hours to avoid congestion during peak hours. It is scheduled to be completed in second quarter 2012.Terminal 2
Terminal 2 opened in 2000 to reduce congestion in the aging Terminal 1. Only the South Concourse had been completed by the time the terminal opened. The South Concourse alone has 10 gates, each with 2 jetways and their own security checkpoints. The North Concourse opened later in 2005, bringing the total number of gates for Terminal 2 to 20 gates; the security checkpoints were moved to a central location in front of the passport control. The 318,000-m2 facility is capable of handling 17 million passengers per year.The Southern and Northern Concourses are also known as Concourse C and Concourse D, respectively. Terminals 1 and 2 are connected by two short people mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
lines, with one from Concourse A to D, and the other from B to C.
Airlines and destinations
Cargo airlines
Operations
| Operations and Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| year | Passenger movements |
Airfreight movements (kgs) |
Aircraft movement |
| 2000 | 18,681,462 | 1,208,838,480 | 115,695 |
| 2001 | 18,460,827 | 1,189,873,251 | 123,916 |
| 2002 | 19,228,411 | 1,380,748,058 | 132,428 |
| 2003 | 15,513,885 | 1,500,070,877 | 125,692 |
| 2004 | 20,083,228 | 1,701,020,413 | 148,938 |
| 2005 | 21,700,702 | 1,705,317,637 | 152,607 |
| 2006 | 22,857,445 | 1,698,806,562 | 157,702 |
| 2007 | 23,425,794 | 1,605,681,101 | 160,120 |
| 2008 | 21,936,083 | 1,493,119,963 | 145,993 |
| 2009 | 21,616,729 | 1,358,303,714 | 139,399 |
| 2010 | 25,114,413 | 1,767,074,774 | 156,036 |
| Capacity | |||
| Passenger (current) | 25,000,000 | ||
| Passenger (ultimate) | 29,000,000 | ||
| Cargo (current) | 1.7m tonnes | ||
The airport is operated by the Taoyuan International Airport Corporation
Taoyuan International Airport Corporation
The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation is a government-owned corporation responsible for the management of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It is a company based in Taoyuan, Republic of China....
, a company wholly owned by the Government of Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. The Civil Aeronautics Administration
Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)
The Civil Aviation Department is the Civil aviation authority of Hong Kong, headquartered in the Queensway Government Offices . The department is responsible for providing air traffic control services to all aircraft operating within the Hong Kong Flight Information Region. It reports to the...
(CAA) is responsible for the provision of air traffic control services, certification of Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
registered aircraft, and the regulation of general civil aviation
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
activities.
The airport has two parallel runways, with one 3660 meters in length and another 3350 meters in length and both 60 meters wide, enabling them to cater to the next generation of aircraft. The south runway has been given a Category I Precision Approach
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
, while the north runway has the higher Category II Precision Approach
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
, which allows pilots to land in only 350 metre visibility. The two runways have an ultimate capacity of over 60 aircraft movements an hour. The Airport is upgrading ATC and runways.
There are 41 frontal stands at the main passenger concourse, 15 remote stands and 25 cargo stands. The airport was the seventh busiest for passenger traffic
World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic
The following is a list of the world's busiest airports by international passenger traffic.London Heathrow has been the busiest since 2000-2010 year-to-date statistics:Airports Council International's year-to-date figures are as follows....
in Asia in 2010, and the world's fourteenth busiest for cargo traffic
World's busiest airports by cargo traffic
The world's thirty busiest airports by cargo traffic for various periods . Numbers listed refer to loaded and unloaded freight in metric tonnes.-2010 final statistics:...
in 2008.
The operation of scheduled air services to and from Taoyuan is facilitated by air services agreements between Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
and other countries. Since the opening of RCTP, the Taiwan Government has implemented a policy of progressive liberalisation of air services with the intention of promoting consumer choice and competition. Many low-cost airlines have started various regional routes to compete head-on with full-service carriers on trunk routes.
The airport's long term expansion opportunities are subject to variables. An NTD 300 billion proposal to build a third runway and a third terminal has been under feasibility study and consultation. However, building a new runway would be very expensive as it would involve a huge compensation for acquiring land.
Passenger Facilities
Transportation between Terminal 1 and 2 is provided by the TTIA SkytrainTaoyuan International Airport Skytrain
Taoyuan International Airport Skytrain, located in Taoyuan International Airport, is a people mover between Terminals 1 and 2. It is operated in 2 lines....
, a driverless people mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
system. The train transports both passengers who have cleared security and those who have not through separate train cars.
Huan Yu VIP Terminal
Huan Yu VIP Terminal, also known as the Taoyuan Business Aviation Centre (TYBAC), has began service in September 2011 and will officially open in mid-October 2011. The three-story facility will have its own terminal and facilities separate from the public terminals. It will provide a multimedia conference room, passenger lounge, private rooms and showers, spa, sauna, gym, and business centre facilities. Other services that will be provided include ground handling, baggage handling, fuelling, security, customs and flight planning. Passengers planning to utilize TYBAC must sign up (to the Taiwanese immigration serviceRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
) 3 days before use.
Baggage and cargo facilities
The handling and transportation of mail, passenger baggage, cargo, and the operation of aerobridges and passenger stairways in Taoyuan Airport is provided by Taoyuan International Airport Services LimitedTaoyuan International Airport Services Limited
Taoyuan International Airport Services , founded in 1979, is currently the largest ground handling provider at Taoyuan International Airport, providing services for 30 scheduled airlines, out of 38 that served in Taoyuan International Airport...
(TIAS) and Evergreen Airline Services (EGAS).
TTIA currently handles over 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. There are two air cargo terminals in the airport: one operated by Taiwan Air Cargo Terminals Limited
Taiwan Air Cargo Terminals Limited
Taiwan Air Cargo Terminals Limited is the leading air cargo terminal operator in Taiwan. Located at the Taoyuan International Airport, it handles over 45% of Taoyuan International Airport's air cargo throughput.-History:...
and the other operated by Evergreen Air Cargo Services.
Aircraft maintenance services
China Airlines Engineering and Maintenance Organization (CALEMO) and Evergreen Aviation Technologies (EGAC) both offers maintenance services at the airport. With its huge base, CALEMO, with a market share of over 75%, can offer maintenance service of 5 huge airliners, ex. Boeing 747Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, at a time or 3 Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
s and another Airbus A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
at a time.
Ground transportation
Bus
Frequent buses link the airport to TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City is the county seat of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, located in the northwestern part of the island. Taoyuan city is the gateway of Taiwan: with the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in vicinity, and is a 30-minute ride to the capital, Taipei....
, Jhongli, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, Banqiao, Changhua, and THSR
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
's Taoyuan Station
THSR Taoyuan Station
THSR Taoyuan Station is an underground station of the Taiwan High Speed Rail located in Zhongli City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. It is also known as Chingpu Station .-Overview:The underground station has two side platforms...
. Bus terminals are present at both terminals.
Rail
The Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT System is scheduled to begin service in 2013 and will link both terminals to TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and Zhongli, Taoyuan
Taoyuan County
"Taoyuan County" may refer to:*Taoyuan County, Taiwan, a county in northern Taiwan Province, *Taoyuan County, Hunan, a county in Hunan Province,...
. Express services will allow for travel to Taipei Station in 35 minutes. The Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
Taoyuan Station
THSR Taoyuan Station
THSR Taoyuan Station is an underground station of the Taiwan High Speed Rail located in Zhongli City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. It is also known as Chingpu Station .-Overview:The underground station has two side platforms...
is about 8 km (5 mi) away and is accessible by shuttle bus. When the Airport Access MRT System is completed, the station will also be accessible by rail.
Taxi
Taxi queues are outside the arrival halls of both terminals and are available 24 hours a day. They are metered and subject to a 15-percent surcharge.Car rental
Car rentals are available at both terminals. The airport is served by National Highway No. 2National Highway No. 2 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 2 is a freeway, which begins in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Dayuan, Taoyuan and ends in Yingge at the junction with National Highway No. 3.-Junction list:*National Highway No. 1 at Airport JCT. in Luzhu, Taoyuan...
.
Other facilities
CAL Park
China AirlinesChina Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
has its headquarters, CAL Park
CAL Park
The CAL Park is located in Dayuan, Taoyuan County in the Republic of China . The building is located next to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport's terminals...
,) on the grounds of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. CAL Park, located at the airport entrance forms a straight line with Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the future Terminal 3.
Airport Hotels
Located adjacent the Aviation Museum and the convention center is the NovotelNovotel
Novotel is a mid-scale hotel brand within the Accor group. Novotel has close to 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the business districts and tourist destinations of major international cities.-History:...
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, which opened in November 2009. The 360-room hotel is equipped with restaurants, recreation and fitness centers, and a hair salon and spa.
Aviation museum
The Chung Cheng Aviation MuseumChung Cheng Aviation Museum
The Chung Cheng Aviation Museum is an aviation museum located at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan.The museum is located in the southeastern area of the airport between the main freeway entrance and the airport terminals...
is located on the south-eastern area of the airport between the main freeway entrance and the terminals. It was built in 1981 by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
under CAA contract. Many retired Republic of China Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
fighters are represented here. Its purpose is to preserve aviation history and provide public understanding of the civil aviation industry.
Awards
- Airport Service Quality (Airports Council InternationalAirports Council InternationalAirports Council International is the association of the world’s airports. It is a non profit organization, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
) Best Airport in 15–25 million passengers level (2008). - Best Airport Security Processing (SkytraxSkytraxSkytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services, which has the largest airline and airport review and ranking site. It conducts research for commercial airlines...
World Airport Reports 2011)
Future developments
In addition to the remodeling of the aging Terminal 1 (scheduled for completion by September 2011), the runways and taxiways are set to be expanded by 2014 to accommodate large planes (including the Airbus A380Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
) at a cost of NT$10.7 billion. The runways will undergo their first major resurfacing and length extension in 30 years. Navigation facilities will also be upgraded to reduce the effects of bad weather on airport operations. Runway and navigation aid improvement projects are expected to be completed by May 2014. A high-tech US$6.4 million (NT$180 million) fence, equipped with a sensor and tracking system, will be installed around the airport by mid-2012.
As part of the "Taoyuan Aerotropolis" plan (scheduled for completion in 2020), existing terminals will be expanded, a new terminal will be constructed, an aerospace industrial part will be established, and special zones for cargo, passenger and logistic services will be developed. The Taoyuan Airport MRT System is scheduled to open in 2013, and will link the airport to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and Taoyuan County
Taoyuan County
"Taoyuan County" may refer to:*Taoyuan County, Taiwan, a county in northern Taiwan Province, *Taoyuan County, Hunan, a county in Hunan Province,...
by rail.
Terminal 3
A third terminal is being planned and is expected to handle 43 million passengers per year when completed. The terminal will be located west of the existing Terminal 2, with facilities for entertainment, shopping, conferences and accommodations. The first stage is scheduled to be completed in 2013 or 2014, while the entire project will be completed by 2018. The Civil Aeronautics AdministrationCivil Aeronautics Administration (Republic of China)
The Civil Aeronautics Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communication is a government agency of the Republic of China . It is a division of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication under the Executive Yuan and responsible for the regulation of all civil aviation activities in...
has allocated NT$60 billion (US$1.9 billion) for construction of the new terminal. Bidding is expected to open at the end of 2011. A satellite terminal for check-in and additional buildings for auxiliary facilities are planned as well.
Accidents and incidents
- On November 28, 1987, South African Airways Flight 295South African Airways Flight 295South African Airways Flight 295 was a commercial flight that suffered a catastrophic in-flight fire in the cargo area and crashed into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius on 28 November 1987, killing everyone on board...
crashed in a catastrophic fire on the Indian OceanIndian OceanThe Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
off MauritiusMauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
bound to Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo International Airport) in JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
from Chiang Kai-Shek Airport, as it was known then. All 159 passengers and crew were killed.
- Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was one of the airports targeted by the failed Project Bojinka plot in 1995.
- On February 16, 1998, China Airlines Flight 676China Airlines Flight 676China Airlines Flight 676 crashed into a road and residential area near Taoyuan County's Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, Taiwan on the night of February 16, 1998....
, which was arriving from Ngurah Rai International Airport, IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, crashed into a residential area while landing in poor weather, killing all 196 people on board and six on the ground.
- On October 31, 2000, Singapore Airlines Flight 006Singapore Airlines Flight 006Singapore Airlines Flight 006 was a scheduled passenger flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via Chiang Kai-shek Airport in Taiwan...
, which was on a Singapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
-Taipei-Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International AirportLos Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
route rammed into construction equipment on a closed runway 05R during takeoff from Taipei. The aircraft had lifted off and crashed with 82 fatalities. At the time of the incident, the northern runways were designated 05L and 05R (parallel); the latter has since been reassigned as a taxiway.
- On May 25, 2002, China Airlines Flight 611China Airlines Flight 611China Airlines Flight 611 was a regularly scheduled flight from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taoyuan to Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong...
broke up in mid-flight on the way to Hong Kong International AirportHong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
in Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
from Chiang Kai-Shek Airport, as it was known then. All 225 people on board died.
- On June 29, 2010, shortly after the arrival of Singapore Airlines Flight 876 from Singapore at gate D6 of Terminal 2, a jetway prepared for Business Class passengers suddenly collapsed. No passengers or staff were hurt.
- On July 15, 2010, a Singapore Airlines A330 aircraft was preparing to take off when a taxiing Antonov-124 aircraft accidentally crossed its path, separated by only 1,100 meters. Investigators believe that the Antonov-124 pilots experienced a miscommunication with air traffic controllers.
See also
- Taoyuan International Airport CorporationTaoyuan International Airport CorporationThe Taoyuan International Airport Corporation is a government-owned corporation responsible for the management of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It is a company based in Taoyuan, Republic of China....
- Taipei Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan AirportTaipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...
- Transportation in TaiwanTransportation in TaiwanThe Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China is the cabinet level governing body for the transportation network of Taiwan and the rest of the Republic of China .- Roads :...
- Ten Major Construction ProjectsTen Major Construction ProjectsThe Ten Major Construction Projects were national infrastructure projects during the 1970s in Taiwan. The government believed the state lacked key utilities such as highways, seaports, airports, and power plants. Moreover, Taiwan was experiencing significant effects from the 1973 oil crisis...