Tigerair Taiwan - a low-cost joint venture carrier formed by Taiwan’s China Airlines and Singapore’s Tiger Airways - launched its maiden Taoyuan-Macau flight on 17^th December, followed the next day by its Kaohsiung-Macau service.

Tigerair Taiwan, which is the first Taiwan-based budget carrier to take to the skies since becoming operational in September, has launched flights to Singapore and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand, while Macau is the carrier’s fourth international destination.

The service from Taoyuan International Airport to Macau provides seven round-trip flights per week until the end of January, with the number of weekly flights increasing to 10 from 1^st February. For services between Kaohsiung and Macau, Tigerair Taiwan will provide three round-trip flights a week on Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

Local airport operator Macau International Airport Co Ltd (CAM) said that passenger volume on the Macau-Taiwan route had increased 6 per cent in 2014 as at mid-December compared to the same period last year. Consequently, CAM believes that it is a good time for airlines to enter the market, and encourages airlines to actively use the open fifth freedom rights to expand the aviation opportunities. Tigerair Taiwan is now the fourth airline to offer Macau-Taiwan routes, in addition to Air Macau, EVA Air and TransAsia Airways.