Taiwan Halts Domestic Flights as Taiwan Taoyuang Nears

Published on Nov 12, 2025, 10:20 am CST

5 min read

Key points

All domestic flights for Wednesday were canceled as authorities kept a land warning in effect
Closures and evacuations concentrated in southern and eastern counties, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung
Travelers should expect rolling adjustments for intercity rail and selected seaports, plus airline waivers on affected tickets
International operations continue with targeted cancellations and diversions at Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung
Primary sources are live and citable, with updates throughout the day in Taiwan local time

Impact

Flights: All domestic services canceled for Nov. 12, limited international cancellations and diversions, verify status before travel
Rail: Branchline suspensions and potential corridor slowdowns in Hualien and eastern sections, confirm TRA and THSR notices
Seaports: Targeted ferry suspensions, especially outlying islands and exposed routes, check operator alerts
Local Closures: Work and school cancellations vary by county, expect day-of adjustments in southern and eastern regions
What To Do: Use airline waivers to move trips or reroute via unaffected times or airports, monitor official advisories

Taiwan's regulators canceled all domestic flights for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after issuing a land warning for Tropical Storm Fung Wong, with the highest travel risk running along the Kaohsiung and Taitung corridors. International operations continue with targeted cancellations and occasional diversions, so travelers should verify flight status and use available waivers before heading to any airport. Local authorities also announced rolling office and school closures by county, plus limited evacuations in flood- and landslide-prone areas in the south and east. Expect knock-on effects across intercity rail and selected ferry routes through the day.

Taiwan, counties most relevant to travelers

The Central Weather Administration kept a land warning in effect for southern and eastern counties, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung, with heavy rain bands also flagged for parts of central Taiwan. Forecast guidance showed Fung Wong skirting southern Taiwan before exiting to the Pacific along the east coast. This track focuses the worst transport and flooding risk on Kaohsiung south through Pingtung, then east to Taitung and Hualien, while Taipei and Taoyuan see lighter, yet still disruptive, bands.

Latest developments

By late Tuesday local time, authorities preemptively stood down all domestic services for Wednesday. International airlines trimmed schedules, with targeted cancellations at Kaohsiung and selected diversions affecting Taipei's two airports. Taiwan's flag carriers published rolling status pages and change policies. Expect additional edits during the morning and afternoon peaks as bands move across the island.

Rail operators issued corridor-specific curtailments. Taiwan Railways suspended branchline service around Hualien, where earlier floods damaged infrastructure, and warned of further slow orders and bus-bridge gaps if rainfall intensifies. Travelers should watch for localized suspension notices on eastern segments and for speed restrictions on exposed coastal runs.

Maritime links also shifted. Authorities suspended some ferries serving outlying islands in anticipation of rough seas and port closures, and additional harbor advisories are possible as squalls come ashore. If your route depends on Kinmen, Matsu, or Penghu, check operator pages and county advisories before traveling.

On the civil side, county governments announced work and school closures based on rainfall and wind thresholds. Reuters and local outlets reported thousands evacuated from high-risk zones, especially in eastern counties that recently experienced damaging floods. Plan for short-notice administrative closures that will affect transit staffing and ground transfers.

Analysis

For air travelers, the decisive signal is the blanket cancellation of domestic flights on November 12. If you are holding a same-day domestic ticket, assume you will not fly and move quickly to rebook for later in the week. If you are connecting from an international arrival to a domestic sector, call your airline now to reroute through a survivable combination, for example, an earlier or later date, or a surface transfer if your final destination is within rail reach. International flights are operating on a reduced and irregular pattern, so even if your long-haul segment is green, keep checking for day-of aircraft swaps, retimes, or diversions into Taipei Songshan instead of Taoyuan, or vice versa.

For rail, the eastern seaboard, particularly Hualien County and the narrow coastal sections around Taitung, is the most prone to suspensions. Taiwan Railways has already paused select branchlines and warned of more to come. The high-speed line runs on the western corridor, which typically weathers storms better, but travelers should still build extra padding into connections, confirm station access, and expect temporary speed limits if crosswinds or waterlogging develop.

For ports and ferries, rough seas and harbor closures will cascade to outlying islands first. Even if your operator still lists a sailing, leave time for a same-day reversal, secure accommodation on the mainland side, and carry essential medications and documents in hand luggage in case you get stuck on the wrong side of a last ferry.

Background, how Taiwan's land warnings and waivers work

A CWA land warning is issued when a tropical system is expected to directly affect the island, triggering county-level closure decisions using codified wind and rain thresholds. Once a land warning is active, transport agencies and airlines coordinate to reduce or halt service on routes most exposed to wind shear, flooding, or debris. Carriers typically activate no-fee change or refund windows tied to ticket issue dates and travel periods, which let you move travel to later dates or reroute to an unaffected airport. For this event, China Airlines and EVA Air have published rolling waiver guidance and status dashboards. Always check the precise eligibility language, then change flights before departure to maximize options.

Final thoughts

This is a short, intense window of disruption focused on southern and eastern Taiwan, with a full stand-down of domestic flights on November 12 and selective cuts elsewhere. If you can defer, push your travel by a day or two. If you must move, expect a patchwork of options, and use waivers, rail workarounds, and flexible routing to keep control of your itinerary. Taiwan, Fung Wong, and domestic flights remain the operative keywords for planning the rest of the week.