Airlines Cancel Flights as Typhoon Fung-wong Forces Mass Evacuations in Taiwan

What happened

Tropical Storm Fung-wong (initially a super typhoon) battered the Philippines then moved toward Taiwan, leaving thousands evacuated and causing major disruption to air travel. Taiwanese authorities reported more than 8,300 residents were evacuated from coastal and mountainous regions, especially in the eastern counties such as Hualien and Yilan.

The Ministry of Transport in Taiwan announced that at least 66 mostly domestic flights were cancelled as the storm approached and preparations intensified.

Storm & Weather Context

Fung-wong reached peak strength in the Philippines, then weakened but still brought torrential rainfall and flooding to Taiwan’s mountainous east. The port town of Suao recorded a whopping 648 mm (25 inches) of rain in one day.

Schools and offices across central and southern Taiwan-—including Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, Pingtung and Chiayi counties-—were shut ahead of the storm to allow evacuations and preparations.

Airline Disruptions

The approach of Fung-wong triggered broad airline operational disruption:

• The Transport Ministry reported 66 flights cancelled ahead of the storm’s arrival.

• Commercial carriers at Taiwan’s major airports pre-emptively adjusted schedules and ground operations to avoid operating in hazardous conditions (high winds, heavy rain, flash-flooding).

• Passengers bound for regions most impacted (eastern counties) were advised to check with airlines for changing schedules, possible re-routes or refunds.

• Airport ground operations were also scaled back as flood risks and strong winds threatened taxiways, runways, ramp services.

Impacts & Operational Challenges

For airlines:

• The cancellation of flights disrupts revenue, causes aircraft, crew and positioning logistics issues, especially for carriers using Taiwan as a regional hub.

• Re-scheduling and re-routing operations cost time and money, and flood risk makes ramp/airside operations harder.

• Airlines must balance safety-first approach with customer service (refunds, re-bookings) amid severe weather.

For passengers:

• Those travelling to/from Taiwan this week face uncertainty: cancelled flights, diverted services, possible long delays.

• Those in eastern Taiwan face evacuation orders, making travel plans even more complex.

For airports & infrastructure:

• The high rainfall (e. g., Suao’s record) overwhelmed drainage and caused flooding of homes — signalling that airport drainage, taxiway/ramp safety and emergency services are under strain.

• Airports in mountainous/maritime regions (Yilan, Hualien) must cope with flash flooding, landslides and runway/taxiway hazards.

What to Watch Next

• Will airlines extend cancellations or ground stop operations as the storm moves across southern Taiwan and out into the Pacific?

• Will major carriers issue travel advisories for passengers headed to the vulnerable eastern counties or advise alternative routing?

• Will the airport operator or Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration issue weather-related air-traffic capacity restrictions (e.g., reduced movements) due to infrastructure flooding?

• How will passenger flow recover in the coming days, and how quickly will flight schedules be re-established?

• Longer-term: Will Taiwanese airports accelerate investment in storm/flood resilience, drainage upgrades and ramp safety given the increasing frequency of intense weather events?