Hengchun Airport, inaugurated 19 years ago, once promoted the picturesque notion of “reaching Kenting Beach in just an hour and a half from Taipei.” However, its operations have been hindered by limitations on landing smaller aircraft and the effects of downslope winds during the autumn and winter seasons. The opening of the high-speed rail exacerbated the situation, leading to flight cancellations for nearly a decade. The Ministry of Transportation is contemplating closing the airport to stem its financial losses.
The Pingtung County Government has devised revitalization measures to rescue the airport. From the 8th to the 10th of September, they planned to launch the inaugural “Aerial Sightseeing” flight. However, it was canceled due to unstable weather conditions. The county government asserts that the fact that all available seats were fully booked within three days demonstrates the market potential. They intend to invite airlines to promote it as a regular tour, and the mid-term charter flight plan is also being reintroduced.
The debate over whether to close or expand “Kenting Airport”, which was constructed with a 500 million NT dollar investment, has been ongoing. Some argue that the airport should be closed sooner rather than investing hundreds of millions of NT dollars to improve it. They cite inherent limitations like the runway’s length and the solid downslope winds during autumn and winter as reasons.
On the other hand, local tourism businesses believe that Kenting Peninsula boasts excellent tourism conditions and attracts an average of five million tourists annually, including foreign visitors who consider it a popular vacation destination. They argue that the airport’s initial design was flawed and that the government should invest further to enhance it rather than closing it down, which they see as a waste.
Hengchun Airport
The Pingtung County government’s long-term goal is to strive for the extension of the runway to 2500 meters and the addition of a crosswind runway.
They hope that by upgrading it to an international airport, Hengchun Airport can be revitalized. In their mid-term plan, they aim to promote international charter flights and have initiated the “Hengchun Airport Incentive for Direct International Charter Flights” project. In 2020, Platinum Skies, a Philippine airline, successfully completed a trial flight from Manila to Hengchun Airport, marking the first such flight. In the short term, they plan to promote light aircraft co-rides and activate the airport through “Air Tourism” activities in the southern border region.
Test flight from Manila arrived to Hengchun airport in 2020
The County Government’s Department of Transportation and Tourism stated that whether expansion should occur is a decision to be made by the central government. The county government is actively promoting its short-to-medium-term plans. After the border reopens, there’s a high demand for international flight routes, and airlines have limited resources to open new charter flight routes to Hengchun. The county government will continue to invite airlines from various countries, recognizing the potential for a tourism charter flight revival.
he County Government’s Department of Transportation and Tourism stated that whether expansion should occur is a decision to be made by the central government. The county government is actively promoting its short-to-medium-term plans. After the border reopens, there’s a high demand for international flight routes, and airlines have limited resources to open new charter flight routes to Hengchun.
The county government will continue to invite airlines from various countries, recognizing the potential for a tourism charter flight revival. This year, they collaborated with Apex Academy to launch the “Air Tourism in the Southern Border Region,” featuring Apexes latest Italian-made twin-engine aircraft, the P2012, which is renowned as the “Ferrari of the Skies.”
The inaugural flight offered a 50% discount at NT$4,500 per person. Despite being canceled due to weather conditions, all 117 seats were fully booked within three days, demonstrating its market potential. The county government aims to invite more airlines to make this a regular tourism offering.
The entire aerial tour experience lasts for 30 minutes. Departing from Hengchun Airport, it passes by various attractions, including Hengchun Old Town, Nanwan, Sail Rock, Eluanbi Lighthouse, Longkeng Ecological Reserve, Longpan Park, Fengchuisha, Jialeshui, and Jiupeng Desert.
Flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet provides people with a bird’s-eye view of the beauty of the mountains and the sea of the Kenting. This promotes diverse tourism and generates greater economic benefits while revitalizing Hengchun Airport. However, during autumn and winter, consideration must still be given to the influence of downslope winds.