TransAsia Airways (GE, Taipei Sung Shan (TSA)) passed a proposal in late March to sell up to 50 million shares in the airline in a bid to increase its working capital and repay its loans. According to the Taipei Times, the Taiwanese carrier already has two foreign strategic investors lined up, "both of whom are known to the public", but is awaiting the outcome of a board meeting in May before announcing their identities. Should the sell-off be approved, it will be the second such offering TransAsia has undertaken in the last 2 years. In 2011 the airline raised US$30million via a similar deal with two other strategic partners, one of which included Paradigm Transportation Holdings BV, a subsidiary of Paradigm Venture Partners LLC, that holds about a 9% stake in TransAsia. In its latest figures released, TransAsia posted a US$3million net profit for the last financial year, down from US$20million a year earlier.

China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE)) is considering setting up an own low-cost carrier to compete with foreign LCCs increasingly serving Taiwan. According to Air Transport World, China Airlines is currently evaluating the project and review a potential order for six A320-200s or A321-200s for the proposed new operator. China Airlines' competitor TransAsia Airways (GE, Taipei Sung Shan (TSA)) already has been publicly announcing its own evaluation for a Taiwan based low-cost carrier since last summer.

TransAsia Airways (GE, Taipei Sung Shan (TSA)) is currently in negotiations with the North Korean government with the aim of establishing regular charter flights between Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE) and Pyongyang Sunan Internatonal (FNJ) from the second quarter of 2013 according to China Times. Flights will likely have to make a technical stopover in Beijing Capital (PEK) or Shenyang Taoxian International (SHE) if approved. Air China (CA, Beijing Capital (PEK)) is currently the only carrier serving North Korea on a regular basis offering three weekly services from Beijing Capital (PEK).

Aer Arann Regional (RE, Dublin International (DUB)) as well as Asian ATR operators Lao Airlines (QV, Vientiane Wattay International (VTE)) and TransAsia Airways (GE, Taipei Sung Shan (TSA)) have confirmed orders for ATR 72-600s according to a report by Aerotransport. Aer Arann Regional has finalized an order for eight ATR 72-600s originally at the Farnborough Air Show last summer. Lao Airlines has placed a follow-up order for two additional ATR 72-600s while Transasia has ordered one additional ATR 72-600. Lao already operates one ATR 72-600 and now has three more aircraft on order. Transasia now has a total of nine ATR 72-600s on order to replace its nine ATR 72-500s.

TransAsia Airways (GE, Taipei Sung Shan (TSA)) chairman Vincent Lim has said on Monday that the carrier would currently be in talks with potential foreign partners interested in taking a minority stake in a proposed new Taiwan based low-cost carrier. Lim had previously invited competitors EVA Air (BR, Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE)) and China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE)) to invest in the proposed new venture but both have not shown any interest in the plan.