Tigerair Taiwan axes many flights to Japan due to pilot shortage

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Recently, many Taiwanese travelers have received notifications of flight changes from Tigerair Taiwan, primarily affecting destinations in Japan, including Hokkaido, Tokyo Narita, Sendai, Hanamaki and Niigata. Some flights even coincide with cherry blossom season and Japan's Golden Week holiday, sparking passenger dissatisfaction.

Some netizens commented that the scale of these flight adjustments is significant, with many travelers receiving last-minute cancellation notices, forcing them to change their original travel plans. Given the high accommodation prices during Japan's Golden Week and the fact that rooms were already booked, it's unreasonable that consumers bear the associated costs and risks due to flight schedule changes. Netizens reported being unable to reach customer service after initial attempts.

Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that, after investigation, Tigerair Taiwan has cancelled approximately 1% of its flights to ensure the safety and controllability of its current pilots during flights, due to recent pilot departures.

In response, Tigerair Taiwan stated on 30 January 2026 that the company always prioritizes "flight safety first" as the cornerstone of its operations and an uncompromising bottom line. Recently, due to internal resource allocation considerations, it proactively adjusted some flights to ensure all pilots on duty can maintain optimal physical and mental condition, and implemented strict fleet management measures. Tigerair expressed its sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused to some passengers by the flight adjustments.

An anonymous former Tigerair pilot revealed that Tigerair is facing a pilot shortage. According to relevant regulations, the annual flight time limit for captains is 1,000 hours, designed to ensure flight safety and pilots' physical and mental health. If each captain flies 80 hours per month, that's 960 hours per year. Considering flight delays and other factors, the flight schedule is not overly packed, and these arrangements are subject to rolling adjustments.

The pilot stated that Tigerair has been frequently adding flights, especially recently increasing the number of flights departing from southern Taiwan. Many pilots are unwilling to take these flights, and Tigerair pilots' salaries are relatively low. Coupled with numerous red-eye flights and long monthly flight hours, no one can sustain this long-term. Although the year-end bonus is equivalent to ten months' salary, it is not guaranteed; if the company doesn't make a profit, there is no bonus.

Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that it has requested Tigerair Taiwan to continuously monitor pilot movements to ensure flight safety, and has also requested that Tigerair properly protect the rights and interests of passengers regarding canceled flights.