Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/05/19
By: Wang Shu-fen and Kay Liu

Taipei, May 19 (CNA) TransAsia Airways, a Taiwan-based regional carrier hit by two crashes since 2014, announced on Thursday a capacity cut aimed at improving its finances.

TransAsia said it plans to ground its two leased Airbus A330s, but continue operating the remaining two A330s it owns on routes to Shanghai Pudong and Japanese destinations, including Osaka Kaisai, Hakodate, Sapporo and Asahikawa.

However, the combined frequency to destinations in Japan’s Hokkaido — Hakodate, Sapporo and Asahikawa — will be cut from two daily round trips to one from June 15 through October.

Flights between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport will be operated by smaller A321 or A320 jets from June 15, and the frequency will be halved to one daily round trip from July.

TransAsia said it will help passengers affected by the aircraft change or the flight cuts by booking them on flights operated by other carriers.     [FULL  STORY]