TSMC sees no expect major impact on chip exports from Taiwan airline woes

EVA Airways

14/05/2021 08:27

TAIPEI, May 14 (Reuters) - Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC)  2330.TW   TSM.N  does not see any
major impact on chip exports from Taiwan's largest airline
having to cut flights while pilots are quarantined over a
COVID-19 outbreak, it said on Friday.
    The government on Monday ordered the quarantine of all
pilots at China Airlines Ltd  2610.TW  for 14 days as it tries
to stop an outbreak of COVID-19 linked to the carrier and a
hotel at Taiwan's main international airport.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2MX0GF
    China Airlines said that would affect more than 10% of its
freighter capacity, though it stressed it would not be totally
grounded.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2MY04B
    TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, played down
the impact on getting its products out to the rest of the world.
    "We do not expect any significant impact to TSMC's chip
exports to customers," the company said in a statement to
Reuters.
    Taiwan's tech firms are crucial to helping resolve a
shortage of semiconductors that has crippled some carmakers and
is starting to impact consumer electronics.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2LO3SU
    The island's other main airline, EVA Airways Corp  2618.TW ,
told Reuters it would try to help make up any shortfall in
capacity as a result of the China Airlines pilot quarantines. 
    "EVA Air's current cargo capacity is already at 90%, and we
will try our best to assist if there is surplus" capacity, it
said.

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EXPLAINER-Why is there a global chip shortage and why should you
care?     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2LO3SU
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 (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jan Harvey)
 ((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))