Typhoon Saudel disrupts Tuesday flights between Taiwan, Okinawa

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Several airlines on Monday announced widespread changes to their Tuesday services as Typhoon Saudel approached Taiwan from the Pacific.

Tigerair announced that several of its Tuesday flights between Taiwan and Naha International Airport have been moved up.

The budget airline said that the affected services are round-trip Flights IT232/IT233 between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Naha, Flights IT288/IT289/IT728 between Kaohsiung International Airport and Naha, and Flight IT793 from Naha to Taichung International Airport.

Tigerair advised passengers to check its official website for flight updates.

China Airlines, meanwhile, cancelled Flights CI312/CI313 between Taichung and Naha and Flights CI132/CI133 between Kaohsiung and Naha.

The airline also announced that it will move up Flights CI310/CI311 between Taichung and Naha and Flights CI122/CI123 between Taoyuan and Naha.

Additionally, China Airlines said Wednesday's Flights CI120/CI121 between Taoyuan and Naha, as well as Flights CI310/CI311 between Taichung and Naha, have been suspended.

To minimize disruptions from the typhoon, China Airlines said it will use larger airplanes for services that are not cancelled. The airline advised passengers to check the company's website or mobile app for flight updates.

Meanwhile, Starlux Airlines rescheduled its Tuesday flights JX870/JX871 between Taoyuan and Naha and JX302/JX303 between Taichung and Naha to depart earlier in the day.

Starlux's Tuesday afternoon JX312/JX313 services between Taichung and Naha, however, have been suspended, the airline said.

Passengers should check its website for schedule updates, the airline said.

EVA Air announced no changes to its Tuesday services from Taoyuan to Naha.

However, the company said customers holding EVA Air tickets issued before last Friday for trips between Taoyuan and Naha from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Thursday can change their tickets without being charged a fee.

EVA Air said the offer will only be available until the end of Thursday and will apply only to flights taken before the end of Sept. 10.

However, passengers will have to pay any additional taxes or fare differences, the company added.

According to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA), Typhoon Saudel was located about 1,340 kilometers east of Taiwan, moving west-northwest at 19 kilometers per hour as of 2 p.m. Monday.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of up to 184 kph near its center, with gusts of 227 kph, the CWA said.

On its current west-northwest path, the storm is likely to be located 880 km east-northeast of Taipei by 2 p.m. Tuesday, the CWA said, advising fishing vessels in the area to stay alert and check for updates.

On sea transportation, Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau said four ferry routes and a total of 55 services have been suspended due to heavy rain brought by the combined effects of a low-pressure system and southwesterly winds.

The bureau said the Keelung-Matsu ferry route will operate just one service Tuesday, while another service on the route will be cancelled.

The Nangan Fuao (Matsu Island)-Fuzhou Langqi (China) route will have two services, while two others will be cancelled, the bureau added.

Services on the Donggang-Liuqiu and Yanpu-Liuqiu ferry routes have been completely cancelled.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said heavy rain had caused the cancellation of 33 domestic flights, while 15 services were delayed.

Two international flights were also delayed Monday, the agency added.