Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 52 ft / 16 m 9,022 2,750 Elevation 16 m Phone +886 3 821 0768 | 03/21 9,022 Code HUN Province Taiwan Province | |
Similar Hualien Station, Chisingtan Scenic Area, Beipu Station, Hualien Bus Station, 和運租車 花蓮站 | ||
Takeoff from taiwan hualien airport
Hualien Airport (Chinese: 花蓮機場; pinyin: Huālián Jīchǎng) (IATA: HUN, ICAO: RCYU) is a commercial airport located in an 11.5-hectare (28-acre) civilian area of a military airbase in Xincheng Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. It primary serves domestic flights although it can handle international charter flights as well. The proximity of Hualien Airport to a military base has caused some tension between travelers, airline officials, and the Republic of China Air Force, especially when civilian flights are cancelled due to war games exercises.
Contents
- Takeoff from taiwan hualien airport
- Hualien airport military airbase
- History
- Accidents and Incidents
- Expansion
- Transportation
- References
Hualien airport military airbase
History
The airport was opened on May 16, 1962, for military and domestic civilian use. Before this, Hualien was a military gravel airfield.
On April 27, 2001, Hualien Airport became certified to serve international flights, specifically charter flights to and from Japan (to nearby Yonaguni in particular). The first Japanese charter arrived at Hualien on October 1, 2001. Charter flights to South Korea began on August 8, 2004, and charters to Macau began on October 19, 2004. There has also been discussion of using Hualien for charter flights to mainland China under the Three Links scheme.
Accidents and Incidents
Expansion
Because Hualien City is a popular gateway into Taroko National Park, the airport became too small and outdated for the growing number of tourists. It underwent a significant expansion between 2002 and 2005 in anticipation of increased traffic from international charters and in an effort to spur local economic development. Plans called for new passenger and cargo terminals, new air bridges, and a new apron. The new passenger terminal was opened on March 19, 2004, at a cost of NT$2.3 billion (US$69 million). It incorporates design cues from both classical Chinese and Aboriginal Taiwanese architecture, though the building overall has a modern look with copious use of granite, marble, steel, and glass. Hualien's terminal is one of only three airport terminals in Taiwan whose layout allows aviation enthusiasts clear views of takeoffs and landings (the other two being Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei, and Kaohsiung International Airport, Kaohsiung). However, even though the new terminal was designed to serve international clientele, the airport so far has neither the level of passenger usage nor the appropriate aircraft maintenance ground services to merit "international" status.
Transportation
The airport is accessible within walking distance South East of Beipu Station of the Taiwan Railway Administration. Local bus 1123 operates a loop between the airport, Hualien Station and Hualien City.