Mandarin Airlines Hopes to Suspend Kaohsiung-Hualien and Taichung-Hualien Flights; CAA States Understanding and Will Evaluate

Amidst the volatile Middle Eastern situation driving up international oil prices, Mandarin Airlines Chairman Chen Dajun stated earlier today that the proportion of oil costs in expenses has risen from 13% to 21%. The company projects its NT$6 billion revenue for this year could incur a 10% loss, approximately NT$600 million, due to the price hike. Chen Dajun mentioned that the Kaohsiung-Hualien route, flying once daily with only 20% passenger occupancy, and the Taichung-Hualien route, flying three times weekly with about 30% occupancy, are expected to collectively lose NT$70 million annually under the new oil price calculations. He called it a meaningless struggle and expressed a desire to suspend these flights. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) issued a statement indicating they understand and sympathize with the airline's predicament and will conduct an evaluation.