TransAsia cancels Taiwan-Okinawa flights as typhoon nears

TAIPEI. KAZINFORM - TransAsia Airways on Thursday called off its flights between Taiwan and Okinawa in Japan scheduled for Friday, amid safety concerns as Typhoon Halong moved into the area.

The airline said its round-trip Flights GE3681 and GE3682 between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Okinawa on Friday will be cancelled, Kazinform refers to FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS .

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, Typhoon Halong was centered about 1,030 kilometers east of Taipei, moving north at 13 kilometers per hour on a path that was projected to bring it between Taiwan and Okinawa.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kph, with gusts reaching 180 kph, the Central Weather Bureau said.