PLA drills disrupt domestic and transiting flights in Taiwan: CAA

Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) A total of 36 domestic flights to and from Taiwan's offshore Kinmen and Matsu islands had been cancelled as of midday Tuesday, while some transiting flights were diverted, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said.

Limited available airspace and the use of non-standard routes have increased operational complexity, doubling the airspace coordination workload, the CAA added.

The disruptions come as the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theater Command launched a second day of drills, code-named "Justice Mission-2025," which include live-fire exercises in waters and airspace around Taiwan.

Flights entering the Taipei flight information region (FIR) from the Fukuoka and Hong Kong FIRs are currently under air traffic flow control, while those from the Manila FIR are being guided by radar to avoid hazardous areas, as usual routes have been affected by the military drills, the CAA said.

To ensure flight safety, all international departures and arrivals are following planned alternative routes, though aircraft may still need to fly detours or wait on the ground before takeoff.

As of midday Tuesday, no international flights had been canceled, though some transiting flights were diverted, the CAA said.

Regarding domestic flights, the CAA said that 29 flights to and from Kinmen and seven flights to and from Matsu were canceled in the morning.

Flight disruptions to Kinmen and Matsu during the military drills, which began Monday, have affected nearly 6,000 passengers, it added.

According to the CAA, it has coordinated with airlines to provide additional flights between Kinmen, Matsu, and Taiwan proper after the PLA drills end later in the day.