Flights may be disrupted by Double Ten preparations

• By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

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Some flights scheduled to depart from Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) in the next two weeks could be affected by military aircraft participating in Double Ten National Day preparations and celebrations that plan to use the airspace around Taipei, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said on Thursday.

Aside from events on Oct. 10, the military would conduct rehearsals for military aircraft performances on Wednesday and Friday next week, as well as on Oct. 5 and 6, the CAA said.

The military has also designated Thursday next week, and Oct. 7 and 8 as backup dates in case the rehearsals on any of the originally scheduled days are canceled due to inclement weather.

A plane takes off from Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) on Thursday.

Photo: Huang Yi-ching, Taipei Times

Some of the military aircraft and helicopters would use Songshan airport to take off and land on National Day and during the rehearsals, the CAA said, adding that some international and domestic flights scheduled to depart from or land at the airport on those days could be affected.

“The Taipei International Airport Office met with representatives from the National Day preparatory committee, the air force, and Songshan-based airlines and ground service operators on Wednesday to discuss ways to minimize disruptions to air travel,” the CAA said. “We have asked the airlines to prepare flight adjustment plans in advance and notify their customers as early as possible.”

In principle, no flights should be canceled because of National Day activities, it said, adding that airlines should consider adjusting flight arrival and departure times or increasing aircraft fuel loads.

People who have booked tickets on the dates should monitor flight changes on the airlines’ official Web sites and apps before leaving for the airport, the CAA said.