Taipei, March 23 (CNA) Scheduled flights between Kinmen and Magong in Penghu will resume starting on April 1, after the closure in November last year of TransAsia Airways, which used to operate the route, UNI Air announced on Thursday.

Flying between the two destinations will become possible again next month, said Hsieh Ching-lung (謝慶龍), head of UNI Air's office at Kinmen Airport.

The airline currently operates flights from Taipei to Kinmen and Magong, but individuals wanting to travel between the two islands currently have to make a stopover in Taiwan, which can be very inconvenient and time consuming.

Starting on April 1, UNI Air will operate three weekly flights between Kinmen and Magong on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using ATR72-600 turboprop planes.

According to Hsieh, flights from Kinmen to Magong will leave at 1:30 p.m. and arrive at 2:10 p.m. on those days, while Magong-Kinmen flights will depart at 2:50 p.m. and arrive at 3:30 p.m.

Flights can be booked in advance through UNI Air's designated mobile app, FamiPort at Family Mart stores or other e-payment machines at convenience stores.

The Kinmen-Magong route will increase UNI Air's domestic routes to seven, the most among all local aviation companies.

UNI Air is a domestic and regional subsidiary of EVA Air, which is one of Taiwan's top two international airline companies.

(By Huang Huei-min and Ko Lin) Enditem/ AW/