Taichung International Airport Introduction
To provide travelers with a better flight environment and to move towards the goal of becoming a world-class international airport while responding to global attention on environmental crises, the newly constructed international terminal officially opened on April 11, 2013. Its design incorporates green concepts focused on energy saving and carbon reduction. The spatial structure combines smooth flow and space, creating a compact yet sophisticated atmosphere on par with international airports. It meets various criteria such as daily energy conservation, carbon dioxide reduction, waste reduction, indoor environment, water resources, and sewage improvement, earning a gold-level certification in green building. The new international terminal has an annual service capacity of 1.7 million passengers, and combined with the existing terminal, the total annual service capacity can be increased to 2.9 million passengers. The operational aircraft type has also been upgraded from the original 4C category (e.g., B737-800 with approximately 150 seats) to the 4D category (e.g., B757 with approximately 200 seats). To enhance service quality for the public and diversify service offerings, Taichung Airport, during the construction of the international terminal, entrusted private organizations to handle commercial and public service facilities that do not involve public authority, promoting private participation in public infrastructure. The terminal incorporates cultural features from both Taiwan and abroad, offering a variety of duty-free shops, dining options, beauty convenience stores, local cultural specialty exhibition halls, 3C products, audio-visual discs, and bookstores. Moreover, it provides passenger inquiry service desks, roving customer service personnel, scenic rest areas, internet services, children's play areas, shopping luggage carts, green walls, cultural galleries, stress-relief massage chairs, and baby strollers, contributing to the development of Taiwan's industrial characteristics and tourism, thus creating social and economic benefits. The market population served by Taichung International Airport, besides Taichung, Nantou, and Changhua administrative areas, extends north to Miaoli and south to Yunlin, covering around 6 million residents, forming the airport's core customer base. In response to the increasing air travel demand from the central urban area, several airlines are stationed to provide flight operations, and the latest stationed airline companies and flights can be checked on the airport's official website. On February 5, 2015, Taichung International Airport officially began offering international air cargo services, initially capable of handling approximately 8,600 tons of cargo per year, making it convenient for cargo owners in the central region to handle import and export business nearby. It aims to provide comprehensive and complete services, progressing towards the goal of “simultaneous passenger and cargo transport,” while continually adhering to the operating philosophy of “flight safety, facility improvement, and service satisfaction,” striving to be a key gateway for socio-economic development in the central region.
