CNA file photo

Taipei, Nov. 15 (CNA) Several foreign airlines began offering early check-in service Thursday at the Taipei Main Station for the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport mass rapid transit (MRT) line.

The carriers include Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, AirAsia, AirAsia X and Philippines AirAsia, according to the Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC), adding that Japan Asia Airways and Thai AirAsia will offer the service "in the future."

They are the first foreign carriers to provide the service at the MRT linking greater Taipei and the nation's main gateway, as it is currently offered only for passengers taking Taiwan-based China Airlines, EVA Airways and their respective subsidiaries, Mandarin Airlines and UNI Airways.

Outbound travelers on those airlines will be able to check their luggage and obtain seat assignments and boarding passes before taking the 35-minute MRT journey to the airport, the company said.

The early check-in service, including baggage drop-off, operates between 6 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. every day, and passengers using the service must complete the procedure three hours ahead of departure.

The TIAC said the early check-in service is expected to handle baggage from 20,000 more passengers each year following the inclusion of new airlines.

The service, launched in March 2017, has so far handled 280,000 pieces of luggage from 300,000 passengers, the company said.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
Enditem/J