Weather, birds causing increased domestic flight disruption: Airlines

UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines, two of Taiwan's main airlines for domestic flights, said Tuesday that extreme weather conditions and bird strikes are causing increased flight disruption. At a panel discussion during the 2024 International Aviation Safety Management Summit in Taipei, UNI Air Chairman Solomon Lin said only 55% of the airline's flights between Nankan and Beigan townships in Matsu County were dispatched during the first half of the year. This indicated that almost half of the flights were canceled due to thick fog or other visibility problems, Lin said. Regarding bird strikes, Lin said that UNI Air had experienced a total of 16 overhauls or airplane blade damages due to bird strikes since 2015. While Taiwan's airports have measures to drive away birds before taking off and landing, Lin hoped that the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) could comprehensively research the area's bird ecology. Mandarin Airlines President Chang Cheng-hao said the airline encountered eight bird strikes in the first half of the year, adding that it was a hidden operation risk, especially in Taichung and Penghu County. Chang said that most domestic routes fly on ATR aircraft models, with around 35 minutes for preparation between flights. This means that the airline crew needs to operate under time pressure, with additional issues of weather and cabin crew exhaustion.<br/>