In Taiwan, convenience stores are especially user-friendly. You can pay your bills, mail your stuff, and even call for a cab. And soon, you may be able to buy your flight tickets via the machines in stores.

But before that happens, the airline involved has to win the battle with the travel agencies, who want this act to be regulated.

Convenience stores are really putting "convenient" to their name.

Now, consumers will be able to purchase flight tickets in convenience stores through a ticket system which links directly with the UNI Air ticket service website.

All consumers have to do is pay for their ticket at the store's cash register, and they'll be able to hop on a plane.

However, this move has put a bee in the bonnet of the tourism industry,

which claims that according to article number 27 in the tourism development regulations, retailers not belonging to the tourism industry are prohibited from conducting flight travel services.

The tourism industry believes that UNI Air's sale of tickets through a convenience store goes against regulations.

UNI Air has responded by saying that the ticket machines in the convenience stores are only a convenient platform in which to interact and provide service to travelers.

They claim that the ticket machines are completely legal as they in fact link all exchanges with consumers directly to the UNI Air ticket system.

However, many from the tourism industry disagree, saying that ticket sales is their main service and that to protect consumers, the MOTC has ordered them to submit security deposits.

Should convenience stores be allowed to sell flight tickets or even tour packages, the tourism industry will lose its specific role in the market.

The MOTC is already conducting an inquisition into the matter to see whether this move to enable flight ticket sales in convenience stores is in fact illegal.

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