China Airlines


China Airlines is the state-owned national carrier of the Republic of China, and one of its two major airlines along with EVA Air. It is headquartered in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and operates over 1400 flights weekly to 102 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. Carrying over 19 million passengers and 5700 tons of cargo in 2017, the carrier was the 33rd and 10th largest airline in the world in terms of passenger revenue per kilometer and freight RPK, respectively.
China Airlines is owned by Taiwan-based China Airlines Group and operates the China Airlines Cargo, a member of SkyTeam Cargo, which operates a fleet of freighter aircraft and manages its parent airline's cargo-hold capacity. Its sister airlines include Mandarin Airlines which operates flights to domestic and low-demand regional destinations, and Tigerair Taiwan which is a low-cost carrier established by China Airlines and Singaporean airline group Tigerair Holdings but is now wholly owned by China Airlines Group. The company slogan is Journey with a caring smile.

History

Formation and early years (1959–1970)

With a fleet of two PBY Amphibians, China Airlines was established on 16 December 1959, with its shares completely held by the Republic of China government. It was founded by a retired air force officer and initially concentrated on charter flights. During the 1960s, China Airlines was able to establish its first scheduled routes. In October 1962, a flight from Taipei to Hualien became the airline's first domestic service. Later, with the introduction of Caravelle and Boeing 727-100s, the airlines introduced international flights to South Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan. With the airlines' first two Boeing 707 aircraft, trans-Pacific flights to San Francisco via Tokyo were initiated on 2 February 1970. The expansion of the company's 707 fleet also permitted more services in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and North America.

International Expansion (1970–1995)

Following the standard utilization of the wide-body 747 on the highly profitable Trans-Pacific – USA routes, China Airlines introduced its first two 747-100s in 1976 and immediately placed them on its Hong Kong-Taipei-Tokyo-Honolulu-Los Angeles route. Shortly thereafter, four brand new Boeing 747SPs were introduced in 1977. Due to political pressure, Japan ended its diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1972, and all flights between Taiwan and Japan were stopped. The 747SP aircraft made it possible for China Airlines to fly daily nonstop services from Taipei to its North American destinations without stopping over in Japan. It also allowed the airlines to introduce flights to Saudi Arabia and South Africa. In 1979, the airlines switched all operations from the smaller Taipei Songshan Airport to the newly built Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. Following the introduction of 747-200s, the airlines introduced its first European destination, Amsterdam.
In 1978, Japan allowed China Airlines to return to Tokyo International Airport at Haneda after relocating all other airlines at the New Tokyo International Airport at Narita, leaving China Airlines as the sole international operator at Haneda, which at the time was an exclusive domestic facility, the premise being that air carriers from the PRC and Taiwan were prevented from crossing paths at any Japanese airports. Eva Air joined China Airlines later on, although both eventually moved to New Tokyo, with CAL moving on April 18, 2002.
The next 20 years saw sporadic but far-reaching growth for the company. Later, the airline inaugurated its own round-the-world flight:. 1993 saw China Airlines listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Later CAL would place one of the largest orders for the new Boeing 747-400s. The new 747-400s and an earlier order with Airbus for over a dozen A300B4 and A300-600Rs wide body regional jets allowed for addition destination growth. During the 1990s, China Airlines also bought the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and had to compete with a new competitor, EVA Air. They also found another airline to deal with the PRC-ROC dispute which borrowed aircraft from China Airlines itself.
at Los Angeles International Airport. Second 747-400 bought by China Airlines on the Taipei to Los Angeles route in the old Pre-1995 Livery.

Change of logo and livery (1995–2010)

As Republic of China 's flag carrier, China Airlines has been affected by disputes over the political status of Republic of China, and under pressure from the Communist Party of China, was barred from flying into a number of countries maintaining diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. As a result, in the mid-1990s, China Airlines subsidiary Mandarin Airlines took over some of its Sydney and Vancouver international routes. Starting from October 7, 1995, partly as a way to avoid the international controversy, China Airlines unveiled its "plum blossom" logo, replacing the national flag, which had previously appeared on the tail fins, and the aircraft livery from the red-white-blue national colors on the fuselage of its aircraft. The plum blossom is Taiwan's National Flower.
Throughout the 1990s, the airline employed many ex-ROC Air Force pilots. Due to the company's poor safety record in the 1990s, China Airlines began to change its pilot recruitment practices and the company began to actively recruit civilian-trained pilots with proven track records. In addition, the company began recruiting university graduates as trainees in its own pilot training program. The company also modified its maintenance and operational procedures. These decisions were instrumental in the company's improved safety record, culminating in the company's recognition by the IATA Operational Safety Audit.
at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 2011.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, China Airlines placed orders for various airliners including the Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Boeing 737-800, and the Boeing 747-400.
Due to improving cross-strait relations, the first cross-strait charter flights between Taiwan and China were introduced in 2003, with China Airlines' flight 585, operated by a Boeing 747-400, being the first Taiwanese flight to legally land in China. In 2005, the first nonstop cross-strait charter flights were initiated, with China Airlines' flight 581 being the first flight of the program to depart from Taiwan. In 2008, the first regular weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China started operating, with daily charter flights introduced later in the year. In 2009, regularly scheduled cross-strait flights were finally introduced.

Joining SkyTeam and "NexGen" Plan (2010–present)

China Airlines signed an agreement to begin the process of joining airline alliance SkyTeam on 14 September 2010 and officially became a full member on 28 September 2011. This was marked by an update to the logo of the airline and the typeface in which "China Airlines" is printed. The carrier was the first Taiwanese airline to join an airline alliance.
In December 2013, China Airlines announced its new joint venture with Singaporean low-cost carrier Tigerair Holdings to establish Tigerair Taiwan. The new airline flew its inaugural flight to Singapore on 26 September 2014 and became the first, and currently only, Taiwanese low-cost carrier. Tigerair Holdings previously held 10 percent of the shares. As disputes unfolded surrounding the partnership, China Airlines Group re-negotiated with Tigerair Holdings and has now taken full ownership of Tigerair Taiwan.
co-branded with Boeing Dreamliner colors.
In March 2014, China Airlines announced the "NexGen " plan to complement its then-upcoming Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900XWB. Designed to refresh the brand image of the carrier, the plan included product innovations, new uniforms, and fleet replacements. Through cooperating with designers from the Greater China region, the carrier hoped to introduce unique product offerings that can showcase the beauty of the Orient and cultural creativity of Taiwan. The first phase of the plan has been completed. In addition to new cabin designs, also introduced were the renovated Dynasty Lounges at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and the debut of new William Chang-designed uniforms. The new fleet types allowed the retirement of older aircraft; the A340-300 fleet was fully retired in June 2017 while the 747-400 has been fully replaced on long-haul routes. With the First Class-equipped 747s flying regionally and new long-haul aircraft not featuring First Class, China Airlines terminated First Class services in 2016. First Class seats are now sold as Business Class.
Future phases of the NexGen plan include ordering new aircraft to replace older fleet types. In May 2019, the airline announced that it will be introducing the Airbus A321neo, including 14 leased, 11 purchased, and 5 options, along with 3 orders and 3 options for the Boeing 777F. The A321neo will replace the Boeing 737-800 while 777Fs will replace the Boeing 747-400F. Cabin design on the A321neo will continue the NexGen design ethos to provide passenger experience cohesive with that of the 777 and A350.
Focus has also been put on tapping the maintenance, repair and overhaul market. In January 2015, China Airlines established Taiwan Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Co., an airline MRO company focusing on Boeing 737, 777, and Airbus A320, A330/A340, and A350XWB families fuselage maintenance. For the project, Airbus is providing a wide range of support, one of which is inviting China Airlines to join the Airbus MRO Alliance, alongside AAR Corp, Aeroman, Sabena technics, Etihad Airways Engineering, and GAMECO. Moreover, a joint-venture agreement has been signed with Tulsa-based Nordam, specializing in nacelle, thrust reversers, and composite materials, to establish the only Nordam repair center in Asia. The first TAMECO hangar, to be completed in March 2019, will be able to accommodate 2 777/A350 and 3 737/A320 at the same time.
Labor-management unrest has been a major issue at China Airlines over recent years. On 25 June 2016, the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union, representing some 2500 cabin crew, staged the first strike in Taiwanese aviation history. A total of 122 passenger flights were cancelled during the day-long strike. During the 2019 Lunar New Year season, over 600 pilots participated in a 7-day strike by the Taoyuan Union of Pilots. Over 200 flights were cancelled between 8 February and 14 February.
In July 2020, the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan passed a resolution for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to rename the airline and redesign its liveries due to frequent confusion with Air China.

Headquarters

China Airlines has its headquarters, CAL Park, on the grounds of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Dayuan Township, Taoyuan County. CAL Park, located at the airport entrance, forms a straight line with Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and the future Terminal 3.
Previously China Airlines had its headquarters and facilities on the east side of Taipei Songshan Airport, in the China Airlines Building on Nanjing E. Road, and at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The functions were consolidated following the completion of CAL Park. The Taipei Branch Office of the airline remains at the China Airlines Building in downtown Taipei.

Branding

Livery and uniforms

Prior to introducing the current plum blossom livery in 1995, the livery of China Airlines featured the flag of Republic of China on the tail due to commercial and political reasons.
In 2011, the carrier made alterations to its logo as part of refreshing the brand image, unveiled during Skyteam joining ceremony in 28 September. A new font was chosen for the company name and a new approach was taken for the appearance of the plum blossom trademark.
China Airlines has had many uniforms since its establishment in 1959. The current uniform was designed by Hong Kong-based costume designer William Chang and introduced in 2015 to celebrate the carrier entering a "NexGen" Next Generation Era.

Marketing slogans

China Airlines has used different slogans throughout its operational history. In 2006, the current slogan was introduced to complement the new uniforms and to celebrate its 47th anniversary. China Airlines' slogans have been as follows:
The name China Airlines, reflects the official name of Taiwan as the Republic of China. The existence of Two Chinas has sparked confusion as well as calls to change the name to something more reflective of modern political realities. This became an issue during the COVID-19 pandemic when a number of China Airlines flights either repatriating Taiwanese citizens or bringing medical supplies to afflicted countries were mistakenly identified as related to the People's Republic of China rather than the Republic of China by foreign officials and the international press. In April 2020 Premier Su Tseng-chang voiced support for changing the name but said that it might come at the cost of the nation’s aviation rights. The Premier announced the China Airlines would highlight Taiwan on the fuselage of planes delivering COVID-19 related medical supplies.

Destinations

China Airlines currently operates over 1,400 flights weekly to 118 airports in 115 cities on four continents. Japan is the most important market of the carrier, with over 180 flights weekly from multiple points in Taiwan to 14 Japanese destinations.
China Airlines has its largest hub at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, which is the largest airport in Taiwan and is located near the national capital of Taipei. China Airlines operate out of both Terminal 1 and 2 at the airport. Operations to Europe, India, Korea, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia are located at Terminal 1 while those to China, Japan, North America and Oceania are located at Terminal 2. Additionally, China Airlines and its domestic subsidiary Mandarin Airlines operate numerous flights out of Kaohsiung International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport, the downtown airport of Taipei. International flights from Songshan Airport to three Northeast Asian downtown airports, namely Tokyo-Haneda, Seoul-Gimpo, and Shanghai-Hongqiao, have important significance to the carrier as the routes form a Northeast Asia Golden Flight Circle.
The expansion of China Airlines international presence has long been limited by the political status of Taiwan. Flights to Mainland China were not permitted until 2003, when the carrier's Chinese New Year charter flight 585 from Taipei-Taoyuan to Shanghai-Pudong via Hong Kong made China Airlines the first Taiwanese carrier to legally land in Chinese mainland and the first carrier to legally fly between the two areas after their split during the civil war. The carrier operated occasional cross-strait charter flights for another few years until 2008, when regular charters flights started. In 2009, a new air service agreement allowed China Airlines to start regularly scheduled flights to the Mainland. Since then, China has quickly become the second-largest market for China Airlines, with over 130 flights to 33 destinations across the Mainland.

Route plans

Over the period between 2011 and 2015, China Airlines focused on strengthening its regional network; starting 2015 until 2020, the carrier is strengthening and expanding its European, North American, and Oceanian network with the new long-haul fleet. After upgrading all its European routes to nonstop services, in late 2017, the carrier launched four weekly services to London Gatwick Airport. In France, as China Airlines does not have rights to operate flights to Paris, the airline cooperated with SkyTeam-partner Air France to launch nonstop flights to the French capital on Air France metal in April 2018. China Airlines sells 40% of the seats on the flight. In America, daily flights were launched between Taipei and Ontario International Airport in Greater Los Angeles in March 2018. Additionally, the carrier has expressed interests in launching European destinations such as Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, and Prague; in North America, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Montréal, and Toronto.
Regarding its regional network, China Airlines is actively supporting the "New Southward Policy" of the Taiwanese government by adding frequencies to Southeast Asia. On the other hand, Mainland routes are being downsized due to tense cross-strait relations.

Codeshare agreements

China Airlines codeshares with the following airlines:
Deutsche Bahn is the only non-airline codeshare partner of China Airlines. The CI code is placed on seven Frankfurt-initiating DB routes, including those to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart.
Additionally, China Airlines is planning on codesharing with British Airways. Initial agreements have been struck to cooperate from Taipei-Taoyuan to London-Gatwick and beyond.

Fleet

Current fleet

, the China Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Retired fleet

Gallery

Renewal plans

In May 2019, China Airlines announced that it will be introducing the Airbus A321neo to replace its Boeing 737-800 fleet. The airline will take delivery of 25 A321neos, including 14 leased and 11 purchased, starting 2021. The order with Airbus also includes the option for 5 more of the type.
China Airlines also has options for 6 A350s. Decision to switch the options to firm orders will be based upon the performance of the aircraft on European nonstop routes. The airline has taken a cautious attitude towards ordering the larger A350-1000 variant due to the large capacity.
Regarding the Airbus A330-300, replacement plans have been underway since 2017. Previously in 2016, a retrofit program was announced to upgrade the in-flight products on the A330. The plan was suspended indefinitely in favor of ordering and leasing new aircraft.

Retirement plans

In June 2017, China Airlines completed the retirement of its entire Airbus A340-300 fleet and all Boeing 747-400 delivered before 2004. It has also phased out most Boeing 737-800 delivered before 2014. The retired A340-300 and Boeing 747-400 are either stored at the aircraft boneyard at Victorville Airport or sold. All stored passenger aircraft are to be sold eventually. Regarding the newer Boeing 747-400 passenger fleet with the General Electric CF6 engines, they will be kept to operate high demand cross-strait and regional flights.

Cargo fleet plans

China Airlines Cargo, the freight division of China Airlines, currently operates a fleet of 18 freighters to 33 destinations across Asia, Europe and North America. The division also utilizes the cargo space on passenger aircraft of the group. In May 2019, China Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing for 3 orders and 3 options of the Boeing 777F. The 777F will partially replace the 747-400F fleet.

Special liveries

The first China Airlines special livery, the "Taiwan Touch Your Heart" tourism-promotional livery, was introduced in 2003. The project was a collaboration between the carrier and the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan. However, the plane was painted back to the normal livery before it left the hangar. Currently, China Airlines has a total of 9 special livery aircraft in service.

60th Anniversary series

China Airlines entered its sixtieth year of operations in 2019. As part of the celebrations, the airline announced plans to decorate one aircraft from each of its fleet type with special 60th Anniversary stickers. The logo consists of the number "60" in China Airlines' corporate colors, blue and red. The design also resembles "GO" and the infinity symbol "∞"
Plane currently carrying the livery:
China Airlines has a history of partnering with aircraft manufacturers to introduce special liveries. The first co-branded livery aircraft was a Boeing 747-400, which was delivered in 2004 carrying the combined livery-design of Boeing and the airline; the aircraft was painted back to China Airlines corporate colors in 2012. The second co-branded livery was painted on a Boeing 777-300ER delivered in May 2016. The third co-branded livery aircraft, first with Airbus, was painted on an Airbus A350-900. The design interweaves the China Airlines brand colors with the Airbus carbon fiber pattern.
Plane currently carrying hybrid liveries:
Plane once carrying a hybrid livery:
In 2016, China Airlines announced that the Airbus A350-900 fleet will have a naming theme that combines endemic birds and unique features of Taiwan. The first two A350s were named Mikado pheasant and Taiwan blue magpie by the airline. The names of the remaining 12 aircraft were selected by the Taiwanese public online from a total of 24 choices.
Planes currently part of the series:
China Airlines has two aircraft painted in the Skyteam alliance livery:
Plane once part of the series:
In 2013, China Airlines revealed plans to start a series of Taiwan-themed special livery aircraft. The carrier collaborated with Taiwanese artists, cultural workers, and the Tourism Bureau to design the special liveries.
Plane currently part of the series:
Planes once part of the series:
In 2009, China Airlines decorated one plane of each of its plane types with the 50th-anniversary logo. All planes of the series now wear the regular corporate livery or another special livery.
Planes once part of the series:

Cabin classes

Business Class

Business Class, formerly known as Dynasty Class, is offered on all China Airlines aircraft.

Premium Business Class

Premium Business Class is available on the Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350-900. The seats are configured in a 1-2-1 layout, offering every passenger direct aisle access. The seat is 78 inches long in full flat mode. Each seat features natural woodgrain table, adjustable reading lights, multiple storage bins, AC and USB sockets and an 18-inch multiple-touch screen with touchscreen-control. Turndown service is offered by cabin crew upon request while a self-service galley bar, named as Sky Lounge, offers snacks, instant noodles, drinks, and books for passengers during in-flight.

Former First Class seats

China Airlines has terminated First Class services since 1 July 2015. However, it still offers the hardware product on the Boeing 747 aircraft and markets the seats as Business Class ones. There are 12 flat-bed First Class seats located in each of the three-class Boeing 747s nose sections. Each seat features a 15.1-inch personal screen with Audio and Video On Demand, USB port, universal power outlet, and noise cancelling headphone. Turndown service is offered by cabin crew upon request.

Recliner and angle-flat seats

On the long haul Airbus A330-300s, there are 30 shell seats with 63" of pitch and 166° of recline; on the medium-haul A330s, there are 36 shell seats with 52" of pitch and 140° of recline. All Business Class seats on the Airbus fleet have in-seat power and personal television screens.
Boeing 747 aircraft equipped with First Class flatbed-seats have 49 Business Class recliner seats. All seats offer 60" of pitch, in-seat power, 10.4" IFE displays and have 140° of recline. Boeing 737-800 aircraft are equipped with 8 recliners styles seats with 40" of pitch.

Premium Economy Class

Premium Economy Class is offered on the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900XWB. The class features fixed-back seats, 12.1-inch multiple-touch screens, USB ports, universal power outlets, footrests, leg-rests, and tables with adjustable tablet holders. Passengers travelling in Premium Economy Class will receive complimentary amenity kits, slippers, and inflatable neck-rests. The seat pitch is approximately 39 inch.

Economy Class

Economy Class on all aircraft features 31–32" of pitch and, except on Boeing 737 aircraft, IFE screens ranging from 6.5" to 11.1" inch size.
China Airlines previously sold the Family Couch product on long haul flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A350-900XWB. It was a set of three Economy class seats, in the first 10 rows on the right of the Economy Class cabin on the 777 and first 6 rows on both right and left of the Economy Class cabin on the A350, that could be easily converted into a large surface area. By booking three adjacent Family Couch seats on long-haul flights, passengers could lie flat on their backs. However, due to low popularity, China Airlines has stopped selling the product as of June 2018. Seats capable of becoming Family Couch seats will now have leg-rests locked.

In-flight services

Meal services

Food and beverages served on flights from Taipei are provided by China Pacific Catering Services facilities in Taipei. China Airlines offers a variety of meals on intercontinental routes, depending on seat class, destination and flight length. Western and Eastern menu selections are typically offered, including seasonal menu selections varied by destination. Special meal offerings can be requested in each class during booking, including children's, religious, vegetarian, and other meals. Meals from famous Taiwanese restaurants or hotels are offered, mostly to First and Business Class passengers.
China Airlines also offers refreshments or snack boxes on all of their international flights. Mixed nuts are offered to customers in all classes before flight while pre-flight drinks are served exclusively to First and Business Class passengers.

Self-Service Galley Bar

The Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 of China Airlines features a galley bar, Sky Lounge, for Premium Business Class passengers to serve themselves with coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages, cup noodles, or snacks. The bar area also features social areas, located next to the exits, and books selected by Eslite Bookstore.

In-flight entertainment

Fantasy Sky, the in-flight entertainment system of China Airlines, is available on all aircraft types excluding the Boeing 737-800. The system comes in three languages: Traditional Chinese, English and Japanese. Over 100 movies are offered in addition to television shows, songs, and video games. Other functions include exterior camera views, company information, and connecting flight data. Furthermore, on the Boeing 777-300ER, "Fantasy Sky" features Duty-Free catalogues, E-Books, surveys and chatrooms.
Regarding personal electronic devices, China Airlines, in accordance with governmental regulations, allows passengers to use electronics, storable in the seat pocket and under flight mode, throughout the journey. Digital devices heavier than 1 kg can only be used above 10,000 feet. Furthermore, after landing and during long delays, data roaming will be allowed under the captain's permission.

In-flight connectivity (Wi-Fi)

In-flight Wi-Fi, utilizing the Panasonic Avionics eXConnect Ku band systems and Deutsche Telekom portals, is available on the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 once the plane reaches cruising altitude. Passengers can enjoy internet connection by paying through the system. There are also free services such as news articles and weather information. Phone calls and video chat are not permitted on the system.
Previously in 2005, China Airlines installed Connexion by Boeing Ku-band services on its Boeing 747-400. The service discontinued in 2006 following the dissolution of Connexion by Boeing.

In-flight magazines

China Airlines publishes three in-flight magazines for its passengers: DYNASTY, Fantasy Sky, and Sky Boutique.
DYNASTY, the China Airlines magazine, has articles in English, Chinese, and Japanese. The articles feature local and international events, descriptive culture, social introductions, personal interviews, in-flight entertainment instructions, and China Airlines news.
Fantasy Sky, China Airlines' in-flight entertainment guide, provides information on the movies, videos, music, and radio channels offered.
Sky Boutique is China Airlines' duty-free catalog.

Dynasty Flyer

Dynasty Flyer is China Airlines' frequent flyer program. There are four tiers where three elite tiers are Gold, Emerald, and Paragon. Members can qualify for these elite tiers by earning enough air miles and/or segments within 12 calendar months. Elite members have more privileges such as access to the VIP Lounge, a higher checked baggage allowance, and being able to upgrade their ticket to a different cabin.

Greater China Connection

In January 2013, Skyteam-members China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and XiamenAir announced plans to establish Greater China Connection. The partnership ensures that members flying the four airlines can enjoy matched benefits and freely change flights to any Greater China Connection partner-flights.

Dynasty Lounges

China Airlines' airline lounges are branded as "Dynasty Lounge". There are a total of 9 China Airlines lounges at 7 different airports. Lounge services at other China Airlines destinations are offered by Skyteam, partner airlines, or local operators. Dynasty Lounge is available to Business Class passengers and Dynasty Flyer Gold, Emerald, and Paragon cardholders. Two-section lounges include an Exclusive Area, for Dynasty Flyer Emerald and Paragon cardholders, and a Business Class Area, for Business Class passengers and Dynasty Flyer Gold cardholders.
Dynasty Lounge features vary by location. Services typically include meals, refreshments, free Wi-Fi access, computers, televisions, publications, shower facilities, and breast-feeding rooms. Sleeping quarters and tea bars are featured at the newly renovated Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 lounge, which was designed by Taiwanese architect Ray Chen.
Location of Dynasty Lounges:
At Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1, China Airlines utilises the Skyteam alliance lounge, in which the carrier, alliance partner China Eastern Airlines, and Plaza Premium Lounge lead the designing, management, and operations. The 1,038 square meters lounge is located near Gate 5 and provides a total of 230 seats. Facilities include VIP room, lounge area, dining area with a hot and cold buffet of international cuisine, bar, business centre, TV room, yoga room, and shower rooms. Regarding connectivity, there are work stations, charging points for electronic devices, complimentary Wi-Fi access.

Private bus services in the United States

In the United States, China Airlines operates private bus services in selected cities to transport customers between their residing location and the airport.
In Greater New York, the airline operates a bus to John F. Kennedy International Airport from Fort Lee, Parsippany-Troy Hills, and Edison in northern New Jersey, and several points in Greater Philadelphia, including Cherry Hill, New Jersey, North Philadelphia, and South Philadelphia. In Los Angeles, a bus transports customers between Los Angeles International Airport, Monterey Park and Rowland Heights.
Previously, the airline operated buses for travelers in San Francisco, Houston and Abu Dhabi. The San Francisco buses transported customers to/from Milpitas and Cupertino. The Houston bus service served Sugar Land and Southwest Houston Chinatown.

Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement (PGGM) Project

Since 2012, China Airlines has been participating in the Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement Project, led by the Environmental Protection Administration, Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Central University. As part of the collaboration, China Airlines installed "In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System " on three aircraft: B-18806 in June 2012, B-18317 in July 2016, and B-18316 in July 2017. B-18806 also wore "The Official Airline for Climate Monitoring" special livery. Between July 2012 and September 2017, the PGGM fleet collected greenhouse gases-data from a total of 4682 flights. In May 2017, B-18806 was retired. B-18316 and B-18317 are expected to continue collecting data until 2027.

Subsidiaries and associates

China Airlines has diversified into related industries and sectors, including ground handling, aviation engineering, and inflight catering.
Companies with a major China Airlines Group stake include:
CompanyTypePrincipal activitiesIncorporated inGroup's equity shareholding
Cal-Asia Investment Inc.SubsidiaryHolding companyBritish Virgin Islands100%
CAL ParkSubsidiaryHeadquartersTaiwan100%
China Aircraft Services LimitedJoint VentureMaintenance CompanyHong Kong20%
China Pacific Catering Services LimitedSubsidiaryCatering servicesTaiwan51%
China Pacific Laundry Services LimitedSubsidiaryLaundryTaiwan55%
Dynasty HolidaysSubsidiaryTravel agencyTaiwan51%
Global Sky Express LimitedJoint VentureCargo loadingTaiwan25%
Hwa Hsia Company LimitedSubsidiaryLaundryTaiwan100%
Mandarin AirlinesSubsidiaryAirlineTaiwan93.99%
Taiwan Air Cargo Terminals LimitedSubsidiaryCargo loadingTaiwan54%
Taiwan Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Co. SubsidiaryMRO companyTaiwan100%
Taoyuan International Airport Services LimitedSubsidiaryGround handlingTaiwan49%
Tigerair TaiwanSubsidiaryLow-cost carrierTaiwan100%

Incidents and accidents

Between 1994 and 2002, China Airlines suffered four fatal accidents, three of which each resulted in more than 200 deaths. The accidents contributed to the perception of the airline having a poor reputation for safety, partly blamed on an air force-influenced pilot culture. Since then, the airline's safety record has seen an improvement. In 2007, in an article published after the explosion of Flight 120, The Wall Street Journal quoted analysts as saying the airline has had "a marked improvement in safety and operational performance since 2002", with the mid-air disintegration of Flight 611 being "a catalyst for an overhaul" in its safety practices.

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