News
Tigerair Taiwan announced its 2026 development blueprint: new services, product upgrades, transferring passengers in Taiwan
January 16th 2026
On January 8, 2026, Tigerair Taiwan announced its development strategy following December’s order of 15 Airbus A321neo aircraft, focusing on offering new services, product upgrades, and tapping into passenger transferring opportunities. Read More »
The airline would have more than 30 aircraft in its fleet within 10 years, including at least 15 A320neo and 15 A321neo aircraft, the LCC said. The acquisition of A321neo will increase the seating capacity per flight from 180 to 233 seats compared to the existing A320 fleet. The average operating cost per seat will be reduced by 11.2% compared to the A320neo. China Airlines Group LCC expects that the increased passenger capacity per flight will reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency. By 2028, the average service years of the aircraft in Tigerair Taiwan’s fleet would be 3.1 years.
This year, the LCC will increase the number of profitable short-haul flights, such as those to Ishigaki and Okinawa in Japan. It also wants to focus on serving transit passengers. "We can use Taipei as a hub, where a Japanese traveler from Sendai can transfer to Ishigaki Island. Many Southeast Asian tourists want to travel to Tottori and Oita prefectures, while Japanese from second-tier cities might want to board Tigerair Taiwan and travel to Southeast Asian countries. They can all transit through Taipei," Joyce Huang, Tigerair Taiwan Chairwomam told local media, Taipei Times reports. "We might not have a competitive edge if we launch new flights to Southeast Asia, given our limited fleet and the intense price competition among budget airlines in Southeast Asia," she added. The LCC has also seen an increase in Japanese passengers arriving in Taiwan via its flights, with Japanese accounting for 20 to 50% of passengers per flight, especially on board flights from Oita, Tottori, and Niigata prefectures,s Huang said.
To capitalize on this development, Tigerair plans to roll out a series of product upgrades. The "Team Tiger" membership subscription program launched in the first quarter will introduce quarterly, bi-monthly, or monthly loyalty plans offering a chance to win free round-trip tickets, along with priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority baggage allowances. In the second quarter, the LCC plans to introduce "tigertel," a service that combines artificial intelligence-powered travel planning to create personalized packages including flights, accommodation, and full travel itineraries tailored to each traveler. Starting in the third quarter, travelers will be able to book connecting flights in a single transaction, extending destinations to a second city in Japan or even Australia, making it easier for Tigerair customers to explore new locations. Tigerair said it is expanding self-service check-in options at multiple domestic and international airports, allowing passengers to retrieve electronic boarding passes online at any time, significantly reducing wait times at the airport.
The LCC is planning to introduce several upgrades to its cabin product. In the second quarter of the year, it will launch a brand-new in-flight entertainment system, which will allow passengers to connect their personal mobile devices to the system and access a wide variety of on-demand video and audio content. It will also allow travelers to purchase duty-free items and in-flight meals. To upgrade the in-flight meal offering, Tigerair Taiwan will collaborate with several renowned brands, including the three Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended restaurants. The program is expected to begin serving meals on the summer 2026 flight schedule. The LCC will also upgrade the lineup of the duty-free products, most notably, Tigerair Taiwan is launching its first exclusive fragrance, "SKY ADVENTURE Tiger Memory NO.1." Finally, regarding the planning of new experiences, Tigerair Taiwan, Rakuten Credit Card Taiwan, and Visa announced yesterday (7th) the official launch of the "Second Generation Tigerair Card." Not only is the card design completely new, but cardholder benefits have also been comprehensively upgraded, offering a wealth of diverse rewards including up to 3% cashback on domestic and international spending, up to 20% off ticket purchases, and priority service.
