Taoyuan Airport's Terminal 3 north concourse to open Dec. 25

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) The northern boarding concourse of Taoyuan International Airport's long-awaited Terminal 3 will officially open on Dec. 25 following nearly four weeks of trial operations, the airport operator said.

Taoyuan International Airport Corp. recently said that an opening ceremony will be held that day to mark the formal launch of the concourse.

The northern boarding concourse is the first completed facility in the Terminal 3 complex and has been in trial operation since Dec. 1.

Construction of the main Terminal 3 building and the southern boarding concourse is scheduled for completion and opening in 2027, according to airport authorities.

Transportation and Communications Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) told CNA he has visited the site several times during the trial period, most recently on Dec. 15.

Chen said that when the first inbound flights arrived, many passengers and flight crews expressed surprise upon entering the new concourse, often unaware they were among the first to use the facility.

Inbound passenger flow has been smooth so far, he said, noting that escalators and large elevators have effectively handled traffic, including passengers with reduced mobility.

Chen said feedback from passengers, airlines and flight crews during the trial phase will be reviewed ahead of the official opening and will also serve as a reference for the rest of the Terminal 3 complex.

According to the airport's website, the Terminal 3 project is based on a government-approved airport development plan and implementation program in 2011 and is intended to accommodate rapid growth in passenger numbers while improving service quality.

Terminal 3 is Taiwan's largest single public construction project since the major infrastructure initiatives of the 1970s. Its design was selected through an international competition won by British architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.