Taipei: Taoyuan International Airport Corp. announced on Tuesday that the completion of the airport's third runway will be delayed from its original target of 2030 to 2032.

According to Focus Taiwan, the delay is attributed to the postponed relocation of residents from the designated site for the new runway. Pi Chin-ling, assistant vice president of the airport operator, stated during a routine Ministry of Transportation and Communications press conference that the relocation is now planned for completion by the end of 2026. This postponement impacts the construction timeline, which is anticipated to require at least six years.

Pi explained that the third runway's construction, situated north of the current airport site, commenced its first phase in September 2023. To address transportation needs and minimize construction impacts, the airport has planned 16 temporary overnight aprons in the northeast corner. These aprons will prioritize use by Taiwan-based airlines.

Of the 16 aprons, nine have been operational since July, and the remaining seven are projected to be ready before the Lunar New Year holiday in February 2026, Pi reported. Furthermore, the northern concourse of the airport's third terminal is scheduled to begin trial operations in December.