Air travel between Taiwan and Hong Kong and Macau has been declining since October last year, This is prompting grave concerns among local travel agencies that some of them might go out of business this year, Asia Pulse news wire is reporting.

According to sources from local aviation companies, the recession affecting the Taiwan-Hong Kong and the Taiwan-Macau routes since last October has shown no signs of abating, particularly as it is low season for China travel.

Total air passenger load for October last year was down by more than 7,000 compared to the previous year’s level, the sources noted, adding that most tickets from Taiwan to the two destinations being sold on the Internet are heavily discounted.

While aviation companies ascribed the fall to a smaller number of Taiwan businessmen flying between China and Taiwan via Hong Kong or Macau, local travel agencies pointed out that Seoul and Jeju Island in South Korea have also taken a slice of the pie in recent years by providing transit for indirect flights between Taiwan and China.
——-