Holiday domestic offshore flight cancellation fees increased to 30%

Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said Tuesday that cancellation fees for domestic offshore flights during holiday periods will be raised to a maximum of 30 percent of the ticket price under revised regulations.

The new tiered fee system will take effect on March 9 and be applied first on the Labor Day long weekend, the CAA said.

Under current rules, domestic offshore tickets sold for holidays for three days or more carry restrictions such as "valid only for the booked flight" or "expired if unused," with cancellation fees capped at 10 percent if refunds are requested before departure.

Under the revised rules, cancellation fees will vary based on how close the refund request is to the flight's departure time.

Refunds requested seven days or more before departure may incur a fee of up to 10 percent, while those made one to six days prior can be charged up to 20 percent. Refunds requested on the day of departure, before takeoff, can be charged up to 30 percent.

The CAA said the changes are intended to curb seat hoarding during peak travel periods, as some passengers book multiple flights and cancel later, reducing seat availability for others.

By encouraging earlier confirmation or cancellation of travel plans, the agency said, unused seats can be released in a timely manner and limited air transport resources used more efficiently.

The CAA added that cancellation fees will be waived in cases of force majeure or other non-attributable reasons, such as natural disasters, bereavement or personal illness, provided passengers notify airlines before departure and submit supporting documents.