Taipei: Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) announced a significant change on Tuesday regarding cancellation fees for domestic offshore flights during holiday periods. The revised regulations will see fees raised to a maximum of 30 percent of the ticket price.
According to Focus Taiwan, the new tiered fee system will be implemented starting March 9, with its first application set for the Labor Day long weekend. Previously, the regulations stipulated that domestic offshore tickets sold for holidays lasting three days or more came with restrictions. These included terms such as "valid only for the booked flight" or "expired if unused," with a capped cancellation fee of 10 percent if a refund was requested before departure.
The revised rules introduce a variable fee structure based on the timing of the refund request in relation to the flight's departure. Refunds requested seven days or more before departure may face a fee of up to 10 percent. Those requested between one to six days prior can incur a fee of up to 20 percent, while refunds requested on the day of departure, before takeoff, can be charged up to 30 percent.
The CAA explained that these changes aim to reduce seat hoarding during peak travel periods. It noted that some passengers book multiple flights and cancel later, impacting seat availability for others. By encouraging passengers to confirm or cancel their travel plans earlier, the agency hopes to release unused seats in a timely manner and optimize the use of limited air transport resources.
Furthermore, the CAA clarified that cancellation fees would be waived in certain situations deemed force majeure or for other non-attributable reasons. These include natural disasters, bereavement, or personal illness, provided passengers inform airlines before departure and supply the necessary supporting documentation.