Uni Air: The Airline That Holds Taiwan Together with Routes to the Outlying Islands

History and positioning

Unlike its sister airline EVA Air, which is oriented toward long-haul international flying, Uni Air performs an almost public-service function on Taiwanese domestic routes, linking outlying island communities with the mainland on lines that are often barely profitable but essential for local mobility.

The fleet

The fleet numbers 14 aircraft, historically based on eight De Havilland Dash 8-300s used on domestic routes, now being replaced with ATR 72-600s. The airline recently signed an agreement for 19 new ATR 72-600s, with first deliveries expected from 2027 and completion of the fleet renewal set for 2032, a long process but one that is already under way.

Routes and network

Uni Air operates sixteen domestic lines, eight of them served exclusively, for a total of over 700 weekly flights and a market share close to 60% on Taiwanese domestic routes. The main airports besides Taipei Songshan include Kaohsiung, Taitung and Kinmen, while internationally the airline operates scheduled links to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul, along with charter flights to other Asian destinations.

For anyone who needs to reach Taiwan's outlying islands or the less-served regional cities, Uni Air is often the only practical option; anyone seeking direct international connections will have to look elsewhere, given its limited overseas network. On some routes to the outlying islands, particularly in months with more unstable weather, it is worth booking a flight with a few hours of margin before later connections, because the smaller regional aircraft are more sensitive to wind-related delays.