from current Terminal 1 to Terminal 4, starting April 30, 2012.
Good News is proud to cover the ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a reception at VIP lounge. The Oasis, to celebrate this important moment with us.
Venue: John F. Kennedy International Airport
Terminal 4
Door 2, Row 2
China Airlines (CAL) is the largest airline in Taiwan and the flag carrier of the Republic of China. Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development. China Aviation Development Foundation is in turn owned by the government of the Republic of China.
The airline, with headquarters in and flight operations from Taoyuan International Airport, flies to destinations in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. China Airlines has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Northeast Asia. The airline started scheduled chartered flights between Taiwan and mainland China on July 2008. Most flights serving this market are concentrated at Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. China Airlines has operated the Hong Kong route since 1967, which is the airline’s most profitable market, generating 13.3% of its NT$121.9 billion (US$3.7 billion) revenue in 2006 with over 140 flights flown a week between Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hong Kong.
China Airlines’ wholly owned subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines, manages regional flights to secondary cities with smaller capacity requirements. China Airlines’ cargo division China Airlines Cargo operates CAL’s dedicated freighter fleet, and manages the cargo-hold capacity in CAL’s passenger aircraft.
Before the Chinese Civil War, there were three airlines operating in the Republic of China. One was Civil Air Transport, founded by General Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer in 1946. The other two were joint ventures by the ROC government with Pan American World Airways and Lufthansa. As a result of the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China took control of mainland China, and only Civil Air Transport moved along with the Kuomintang (KMT)-controlled ROC government to Taiwan.
With a fleet of two PBY Amphibians, China Airlines was established on December 16, 1959, with its shares completely held by the Republic of China government[citation needed]. It was founded by a retired air force officer[citation needed] 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. Growth continued and on December 1, 1966, Saigon, South Vietnam (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) became the airline’s first international destination. Trans-Pacific flights to San Francisco were initiated on February 2, 1970.[citation needed]
The China Airlines Taipei Branch Office and the former China Airlines headquarters in Songshan District, Taipei
The next 20 years saw sporadic but far-reaching growth for the company. Routes were opened to Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, Dhahran and Johannesburg, among others (China Airline’s first European destination was Amsterdam). Jets were acquired, and China Airlines employed such planes as the Boeing 747 in its fleet. Later, the airline inaugurated its own round-the-world flight: (Taipei-Anchorage-New York-Amsterdam-Dubai-Taipei).[citation needed] 1993 saw China Airlines listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Change of logo and livery
As the flag carrier for the Republic of China, China Airlines has been affected by disputes over the political status of Taiwan, and under pressure from the People’s Republic of China was barred from flying into a number of countries maintaining diplomatic relations with the PRC. As a result, in the mid-1990s, China Airlines subsidiary Mandarin Airlines took over some of its Sydney and Vancouver international routes. Partly as a way to avoid the international controversy, in 1995 China Airlines unveiled its “plum blossom” logo, replacing the national flag, which had previously appeared on the tail fins (empennage), and the aircraft livery from the red-white-blue national colors on the fuselage of its aircraft.[citation needed] Plum blossom (Prunus mume) is the National Flower of the Republic of China.
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 (IOSA).
In late 2004, President Chen Shui-bian proposed the renaming of all state-owned enterprises bearing the name “China” to “Taiwan.” This was opposed by the Pan-blue coalition, the opposition parties in the ROC legislature. The airline also voiced concern over its international operations, codeshare agreements and other commercial contracts. The issue was dropped after the 2004 Legislative Yuan election when the pro-Chen Pan-Green Coalition failed to win a majority. In 2007, however, the issue resurfaced with the renaming of several state-owned companies such as Chunghwa Post, whose name was changed to Taiwan Post (a name that was reverted again to Chunghwa Post when the KMT won both the presidential and legislative 2008 elections) and CPC Corporation.
Our strategic target is to continuously strengthen profitability and boost our competitiveness among international carriers.
―Philip Wei (魏幸雄 Wèi Xìngxióng), Former Chairman of China Airlines
SkyTeam
China Airlines signed an agreement to begin the process of joining the SkyTeam airline alliance on September 14, 2010 and officially became a full member on September 28, 2011. This was marked by an update to the logo of the airline and the typeface in which “China Airlines” is printed.
The float built by China Airlines won the International Trophy in the Rose Parade in California on January 2, 2011 for the 20th time in a row.
China Airlines changed their Taipei-New York stopover from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to Kansai Airport, ending Anchorage’s only non-seasonal international passenger flight after 28 years, on April 28, 2011.
Japanese Government awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to China Airlines for its post-quake efforts.
China Airlines announced the intention of bringing the fleet from 68 now to 100+ within at most 10 years. With the orders of the Airbus A350s (14 orders and 6 options), China Airlines recently announced the intention of leasing more Airbus A330s or narrow-body aircraft in order to meet the increasing demands of regional routes and cross-strait routes. China Airlines also announced that the decision of the long-haul fleet plan will be announced by the end of 2012 the latest.
China Airlines’ original livery prior to 1995 was a livery with the Republic of China Flag printed on the tail. It changed its livery since the Chinese mainland government prohibits any aircraft flying with the Republic of China Flag printed on the plane to land in the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau and pressured other countries to do so too. Under political pressure, China Airlines changed its livery to the livery now.
China Airlines has had many uniforms since its 1959. China Airlines’ present uniform was changed in 2007 to celebrate its 47th anniversary.
China Airlines has used different slogans throughout its operational history. In 2006, a second slogan was introduced to complement the new uniforms and to celebrate the 47th anniversary. China Airlines’ slogans have been as follows:
“We treasure every encounter” (1987?C1995)
“We blossom everyday” (1995?C2006)
“Journey with a caring smile” (2006?Cpresent)
Further information: China Airlines destinations
Most of China Airlines’ flights originate out of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, its main hub near Taipei, Taiwan. At Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, China Airlines’ flight operations are in Terminal 1 and 2. China Airlines’ regional flights are mainly concentrated in Terminal 1. Its long-haul flights, especially American, European, and Australian, are mainly concentrated in Terminal 2. Additionally, China Airlines and its domestic subsidiary Mandarin Airlines operate numerous flights out of Kaohsiung International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport. China Airlines’ focus cities outside Taiwan are mainly Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Hong Kong’s Hong Kong International Airport, and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport.
Through the mid 2000s, China Airlines’ route network was affected by the political status of Taiwan, which has historically limited access for Taiwanese airlines to Europe and certain Asian countries. Because Taiwanese carriers did not have direct access to China, China Airlines used Hong Kong as its interline destination. China Airlines started to operate regular charter flights to China in 2008. The airline began regularly scheduled, direct cross-strait operations in December 2008, following the restoration of direct travel links.
China Airlines now serves 98 destinations in 29 countries and territories (including cargo) on four continents, with a well-developed Asian network.
Codeshare agreements
China Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines: (* denotes as Skyteam members and or affiliates)
Alitalia *
China Eastern Airlines *
China Southern Airlines *
Czech Airlines *
Delta Air Lines *
Garuda Indonesia (future SkyTeam member)
Japan Airlines (Oneworld)
KLM *
Korean Air *
Shanghai Airlines *
Thai Airways International (Star Alliance)
Vietnam Airlines *
Virgin America *
Xiamen Airlines (future SkyTeam affiliate member)
In addition, China Airlines has a codeshare agreement with Deutsche Bahn.
Interline agreements
China Airlines has interline agreements with the following airlines:
Virgin America
WestJet
