Travelers heading to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport this summer should take note of a significant change to how the airport works. The Skytrain — the outdoor inter-terminal connector that has shuttled passengers between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 for more than 23 years — will permanently shut down on July 1, 2026, as the airport makes way for critical construction work tied to its new Terminal 3.
The airport operator has confirmed the service will not return. In its place, two free alternatives are already up and running, and getting between terminals will remain straightforward — as long as you know the options before you arrive.
What Is Changing, And What Is Not
The Skytrain being retired is the one operating outside the security zone, used primarily by passengers who need to move between terminals before check-in, as well as those dropping off or picking up travelers and anyone who has simply shown up at the wrong terminal.
The Skytrain inside the security zone — the one used by connecting passengers who are already airside — is completely unaffected and will continue operating as normal. Transit passengers have nothing to worry about.
The airport described the shutdown as the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. The corridor currently served by the outdoor Skytrain will eventually be upgraded into an autonomous electric bus system, designed with sustainability and smart technology in mind. For now, two existing free options cover the gap.
Two Free Ways To Get Between Terminals
The fastest and most reliable option is the Airport MRT. Passengers traveling between Terminal 1 (Station A12), Terminal 2 (Station A13), and the Airport Hotel (Station A14a) can ride completely free of charge by tapping in and out with an EasyCard, iPASS, or a mobile payment-enabled credit card. The system automatically recognizes the journey as a free inter-terminal transfer — no special ticket or request needed. Note that American Express cards are not accepted for this free transfer. The MRT runs from 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., with trains every 7.5 to 15 minutes.
For late-night arrivals and early-morning departures when the MRT is not running, the Terminal Shuttle Bus operates around the clock, every day of the year, at no cost. During daytime hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:59 p.m., buses run every 15 minutes. From 11:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., the frequency drops slightly to every 20 minutes — still frequent enough that no one should be stranded between terminals at any hour.
Real-time bus arrival information is available through the airport's official shuttle bus website and its mobile app.
A Practical Tip Before You Go
The single most useful thing any traveler can do is confirm which terminal their airline uses before leaving for the airport. With the outdoor Skytrain gone, an accidental wrong-terminal arrival will mean a short detour — not a crisis, but an unnecessary one that could add stress on a tight schedule. Signage and airport staff will be on hand to guide passengers to the correct connections during the transition period.
The airport's message to travelers is straightforward: the inconvenience is temporary, the alternatives are free, and the destination is a significantly upgraded airport on the other side of construction.
Quick Reference: Taoyuan Airport Inter-Terminal Transport Before and After July 1
| Service | Before July 1 | From July 1 Onward |
| Landside Skytrain (outside secure zone) | In operation — free service between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 | Permanently discontinued; to be replaced by an autonomous electric bus system |
| Airside Skytrain (inside secure zone) | In normal operation | Continues normal operation — transit passengers unaffected |
| Airport MRT free ride zone | Free travel between three designated stations with electronic payment | Unchanged — A12, A13, and A14a remain fare-free between each other |
| Inter-terminal shuttle bus | Free 24-hour service | Unchanged — daytime every 15 minutes, nighttime every 20 minutes, free of charge |
