Taiwan charters to Guam the first direct flights in months

Unsurprisingly, direct flights - charter or otherwise - encourage visitors and Taiwanese travelers are no different to others.

Two charter flights from Taiwan were full, with about 177 seats each. The charter flights operated by Starlux arrived Feb. 6 and Feb. 10 and offered a four-night Chinese New Year package to Guam, according to the Guam Visitors Bureau.

A GVB delegation met with Taiwanese officials in September. Journal file photo

Taiwanese travel agencies Spunk Tour and Phoenix Tours collaborated with Starlux. Guam hotels that participated in a meal incentive program included the Dusit Thani Guam, the Guam Plaza Hotel, Hotel Nikko Guam, Pacific Islands Club Guam, the RIHGA Royal Laguna Guam Resort, and The Tsubaki Tower.

GVB solicited the flights during a visit to Taipei in September, according to Journal files. There are currently no direct scheduled flights between Guam and Taiwan.

In December, Guam saw 163 visitors from Taiwan, compared to 2,004 in December 2019.

After Typhoon Mawar devastated Guam in May 2023, planned charters from Taiwan dropped away.

China Airlines retains its signatory status at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam. EVA Air flew charters to Guam in 2021, during GVB’s Air V&V (vaccination and vacation) program.

The Northern Mariana Islands sent a delegation to Taiwan at the end of October. The NMI saw six visitors from Taiwan in December.

Palau saw 764 Taiwan arrivals in December, with China Airlines flying directly between the two countries. mbj

Panel reflects on 50 years since Operation New Life

Scholars, community leaders, veterans, and former refugees gathered at the Guam Museum Theater in Hagåtña on July 26, for a public forum marking the 50th anniversary of Operation New Life, a massive U.S. military-led evacuation effort that brought more than 110,000 Vietnamese refugees through Guam in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.

Taiwan charters to Guam the first direct flights in months