Taoyuan airport's Terminal 3 north concourse to ease peak-hour congestion

Taoyuan, Dec. 25 (CNA) The north concourse of Terminal 3 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport officially began operations Thursday and is expected to ease congestion during early-morning transfer and departure peak hours, the airport operator said.

About 40 arriving and departing flights will use the north concourse every day, according to Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC).

The new concourse is expected to significantly cut the use of remote aircraft stands, where passengers have to be bused to and from planes, improving the flow of travelers, the company said.

A total of 259 takeoffs and landings were recorded during the trial period that began on Dec. 1, with passenger traffic reaching 58,801, it said.

The airport's Terminal 3 was designed by British architect Richard Rogers, who also designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Its design incorporates traditional Taiwanese roof tiles, mountain ridges, ocean waves, and clouds, which form the terminal's most prominent visual feature.

The north concourse features a bright, modern design with silver-gray and orange accents. Besides regular seating and standing areas with power outlets, 30 massage chairs are available for passengers free of charge.

The north concourse extends from Gate D10 at Terminal 2 and connects to Gates D11 through D18. As the main Terminal 3 complex is scheduled to be completed and opened in 2027, passengers currently need to clear immigration and security at Terminal 2.

At a ceremony marking the concourse's opening, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said upcoming goals include completing Terminal 3 by 2027 to allow construction of the airport's third runway to begin.

Lai further mentioned that the second goal is to ensure external transport links to the airport are completed on schedule.

Lastly, he said another goal is for Taoyuan airport to handle 83 million passengers, 3.85 million tons of cargo, and 435,000 takeoffs and landings annually by 2045, creating an economic impact of NT$2.2 trillion.

The event on Thursday was attended by various officials, including Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) and TIAC Chairman Yang Wei-fuu (楊偉甫).