Regular flights will start between Fukushima and Taiwan at the end of March 2024, marking the return of regular international flights at Fukushima Airport for a 13-year hiatus.
　The Fukushima prefectural government last month signed a memorandum of understanding with low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan and a Taiwan travel agency, paving the way for flights between the prefecture and island. The flights will be the first regular service between the two.

　２０１１年３月から休止していた福島空港の国際定期便が来年３月末、１３年ぶりに再開する見通しとなった。福島県と台湾の格安航空会社（ＬＣＣ）タイガーエア台湾、台湾の旅行会社が先月、定期便就航に向けた覚書を締結した。台湾との定期便は初めて。

　Regular international flights to and from the airport have been suspended since the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the ensuing accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　From January, regular charter flights between the airport and Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan will operate in both directions twice weekly. This is expected to become a formal service from the end of March.

　２０１１年３月に発生した東日本大震災とそれに伴う福島第一原子力発電所事故以降、福島空港を発着する国際線の定期便は運休となっている。来年１月から同空港と台湾・桃園国際空港を結ぶ定期チャーター便を往復で週２便運航。来年３月末から定期便として運航する考えだ。

　Since 1999, regular international flights to Fukushima Airport had followed two routes -- one from Shanghai, one from Seoul. However, they were stopped following the 2011 disaster. The prefectural government has been trying to stimulate demand, especially in East Asia, to get back regular flights. Taiwan has been the most receptive, with islanders' strong interest in the prefecture's scenery and food resulting in 356 charter flights since the disaster. A total of 42,590 passengers have visited the prefecture via these flights.

　福島空港と海外を結ぶ定期便は、１９９９年から中国・上海、韓国・ソウルの２路線が運航していたが、震災後に休止。県は定期便再開に向け、東アジアの国・地域を中心に需要を喚起してきた。なかでも台湾では福島県の景観や食に関心が高く、震災後のチャーター便数は３５６便、利用者も４万２５９０人と最多だった。

　"The launch of regular international flights will give a powerful boost to Fukushima's tourism industry," Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori said at the memorandum signing ceremony held at the airport. "This could be a major boon to the prefecture's rebuilding."

　福島空港で行われた覚書締結の席で、内堀雅雄福島県知事は「国際定期便の就航は福島の観光業を力強く後押しし、復興を大きく前進させることができる」と期待を語った。

　Use of the airport, which opened in 1993, has fallen off in recent years due to the earthquake, nuclear accident and COVID-19 pandemic. The prefectural government hopes the Taiwan flights will lead to more international routes.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　１９９３年に開港した福島空港は近年、震災と原発事故、新型コロナウイルスの影響で利用者が落ち込んでいた。県は台湾便を弾みに、さらなる路線拡大を目指す。

　【　２０２３年９月６日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】