Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/12
By: Chang Hsiung-feng, Wu Hsin-yun and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) Far Eastern Air Transport Corp's (FAT) sudden decision to end its flight operations with effect from Friday is expected to inconvenience 3,408 passengers, while the airline may face a fine of up to NT$3 million (US$ 97,975) for not meeting its flight commitments, government authorities said Thursday.

According to the Tourism Bureau, 3,251 people in 120 tour groups had already booked scheduled FAT flights for Friday or later dates.

Another five tour groups, with 157 people, had taken FAT flights on overseas trips and were scheduled to return to Taiwan on the carrier, the bureau said in a press release, after FAT announced earlier in day that due to financial difficulties, it was ending its service with effect from Friday.

At a joint press conference with the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), however, FAT Deputy General Manager Huang Yu-chi (黃育祺) said the airline was simply "suspending" its flight operations temporarily due to a shortage of funds, which he estimated at NT$30 million.    [FULL  STORY]