TRANSASIA'S SHUTDOWN IMPACTS LUNAR NEW YEAR TRANPORT|復興停飛 春節疏運面臨大考驗

After the sudden dissolution of TransAsia Airways, the Executive Yuan had ordered China Airlines to take over most of its routes. However, many passengers are still asking for refunds or exchanges. The airline's closure is expected to have serious impacts to the travel industry, especially during the upcoming lunar new year. What would the Ministry of Transportation and Communications do to react? Let's take a look at our follow-up story. Stacks of passport and airline ticket placed over the counters, many travel agents were waiting for confirmation at the Taoyuan International Airport. TransAsia Airways had shut down, agents were anxious to seek alternatives for clients. ==TRAVEL AGENT== Of course, we need to check if they have vacant seats for flights. The number of cases is more than usual. The quantity is about double. The only possibility is purchasing round-tickets by yourselves. ==LU YUN, Consumers' Foundation President== Is there any service charge incurred for getting a refund or exchange? I think the TransAsia Airways also has the responsibility to handle the matter with care. The dissolution imposed large effects on passengers and its proprietary flight routes. The routes from Taipei to Hualien and Kinmen to Magong will be replaced by other domestic airlines. International flights to Jeju Island, Angor Cave and Chiang Mai will be replaced by other international airlines. As to the flights to Shanghai's Pudong will be arranged in the same manner. A more critical issue is the transportation for the lunar new year. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to request all airlines adding more airliners and coordinate military transport aircraft for standing by. Information on transfers and alternatives will be provided in real-time.。 ==HO CHEN TAN, Transportation Communications Minister== We are trying to seek assistance from operators in the same industry. In the same time, we are providing relevant information and trying to minimize impacts to the rights of all passengers involved. For transportation in the new year, the industry needs a bit more time to coordinate and dispatch. The Ministry will make a request to full extent. We also seek for other alternatives when necessary. The Ministry will issue administrative penalties to the TransAsia Airways for its dissolution. The core agenda is protecting passengers' rights. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 厚厚一疊護照和機票，桃園機場一大清早，在各航空公司櫃台，陸續出現旅行業者來搶票，就是因為復興航空，確定要停航解散，旅客想搭乘飛機，只能趕快想辦法。 ==旅行業者== 對啊 要看他們 有空位的話 才有可能搭得上 (代辦)數量大概是平常幾倍 數量啊 可能2倍吧 唯一的可能 自己買機票回來吧 ==消基會董事長 陸雲== 退票 或者是換票之間 是不是還要收取 這個相關的手續費 其實我想 復興航空公司 也有責任 把這個事情處理好 復興航空停航，旅客行程可能大受影響，但更頭大的，還有復興航空的航線問題。目前處理方式，國內獨營航線，台北到花蓮、金門到馬公，都要協請他航支援；國際線，像是到濟州島、吳哥窟、清邁，也都是獨營航線，其他航空公司，將以相近航線支援，兩岸線台北松山機場到上海浦東等線，也是一樣規劃；更重要的是，即將到來的農曆年節疏運，交通部將協調各航空公司加開班次、國防部備妥軍用運輸機，並提供轉乘資訊，來應急。 ==交通部長 賀陳旦== 想辦法來找同業 同時對於資訊上面 對於資訊上面 讓所有的旅客的權益 盡量減少他們的損傷 (春節疏運)同業之間 也需要一點時間 大家來協調 來調度 我們會在這個上面 全力來要求 也希望我們必要的時候 可能要尋求一些 其他的作為 交通部表示，將會對復興航空停航解散，做出行政處罰，現階段將以旅客權益，作為優先考量。 記者 綜合報導