Domestic Flight Fares Temporarily Suspended; Ministry of Transportation Plans to Coordinate CPC Oil Price Freeze

In response to Middle East developments, Executive Yuan Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan stated that in terms of transportation, the Ministry of Transportation has been asked to ensure that fares for high-speed rail, Taiwan Railways, MRT, buses, and coaches will not be adjusted; and after discussion, domestic flight fares will also be temporarily suspended. Deputy Minister of Transportation Chen Yen-po reiterated today at a road safety briefing that current plans do not include fare adjustments for domestic public transportation, including rail and road. Regarding aviation, Chen Yen-po stated that in response to the Middle East situation, the government will subsidize aviation fuel. Domestic flight fares were originally planned to increase, but after coordination, airlines will absorb the costs themselves. He also mentioned that to prevent oil price fluctuations from affecting fares, related plans have been initiated to coordinate with CPC Corporation Taiwan on whether to implement a certain degree of price freeze on oil. Regarding the increase in fuel surcharges for national airlines, effective today, short-haul routes will increase to $45 USD (approximately NT$1438), and long-haul routes to $117 USD (approximately NT$3739). Chen Yen-po stated that the market mechanism is respected. Short-haul routes are defined as Asia (excluding India and the Middle East); long-haul routes are Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, Antarctica, India, and the Middle East. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150407