Category Archives: China Airlines

Airbus and China Airlines present this A350-900 with a special joint livery

Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) has taken delivery of its newest A350-900 aircraft, which features a unique joint livery that combines the airline’s distinctive plum blossom logo with Airbus’ exclusive A350 XWB carbon fibre pattern.

Following this delivery, China Airlines today has 14 A350-900 aircraft in its fleet. The airline operates these aircraft on nonstop long haul routes, including services from Taipei to Europe and North America as well on selected routes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since entry into service in 2015, the A350 XWB has established itself as the new long range leader in the larger twin aisle category. Over 200 aircraft are already in service with 22 airlines, flying primarily on long haul routes.

At the end of September 2018, Airbus had recorded a total of 890 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 46 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft programmes ever.

Innovations introduced with the A350 XWB Family include the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these features translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption compared with older generation aircraft of the same size, as well as significantly lower maintenance costs.

Photo: Airbus.

China Airlines adjusts times for Ontario-Taiwan flights

China Airlines and the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) announced schedule changes for flights between Ontario and Taiwan beginning next week, a move that will enable passengers to reach more connecting flights to destinations across Asia.

(PRNewsfoto/Ontario International Airport)

Effective Monday, September 17, 2018 China Airlines flight CI23 will depart Ontario International Airport (ONT) at 11:50 p.m. and arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 5:00 a.m. local time two days later. The return flight, CI24, will depart TPE at 6:00 p.m. local time, arriving ONT at 3:10 p.m.

While scheduled departure and arrivals may be adjusted in the future, officials stressed that early morning arrivals to TPE will enable passengers to make connections to South East Asia, Japan, Korea and China more conveniently.

China Airlines began roundtrip service between ONT and TPE in March arriving daily into Ontario at 1:20 p.m. pacific time with a return flight to TPE departing at 4:15 p.m., arriving TPE at 8:55 p.m. the next day. The China Airlines service was Ontario’s first nonstop, transoceanic passenger service.

China Airlines is expected to introduce its new Airbus A350-900 on the route.

Top Copyright Photo: China Airlines Boeing 777-309 ER B-18007 (msn 43982) (Boeing special colors) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941349.

China Airlines aircraft slide show:

China Airlines to bring the Airbus A350-900 to Ontario, CA, will showcase a special “carbon” livery on the last A350

As previously reported, China Airlines will start Ontario, CA – Taipei, Taiwan service on September 17, 2018. Flight CI 023 will depart ONT nightly at 2350 (11:50 PM) local time.

The airline will introduce the Airbus A350-900 on the route on October 28, 2018.

The retiring Boeing 747-400s:

In other news, the company is planning to introduce a new “carbon livery” for its last Airbus A350-900 (B-18918, msn 239). The aircraft is due in October.

Above Photo: Airbus.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by China Airlines): China Airlines Airbus A350-941 B-18909 (msn 138) LGW (Antony J. Best). Image: 941155.

China Airlines aircraft slide show:

Ontario, CA welcomes China Airlines

Ontario International Airport (ONT) welcomed the arrival of China Airlines flight CI24 from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) on Sunday, March 25, marking the start of Ontario’s first nonstop, transoceanic passenger service (above).

China Airlines, which increased flight frequency from four to seven days a week in response to strong customer interest, is marketing Ontario as Southern California’s new gateway to Asia, a reflection of how far the airport has come since its transfer to local control in November 2016.

TPE is the primary International gateway airport for the New Taipei-Keelung-Taoyuan City metro area, with more than 9 million residents, while ONT is the closest and most convenient international airport for more than 10 million Southern California residents in the Inland Empire, northern Orange County, and eastern Los Angeles County.

More than 4.5 million passengers traveled through ONT last year, a 7% increase over 2016 and its best year since 2010. China Airlines projects 80,000 passengers on the new ONT-TPE route in the first year.

China Airlines’ inaugural flight arrived on time at 1:20 p.m. (PDT) with 298 passengers and crew aboard and was greeted by a water cannon salute and a “Blessing from 3 Princes” celebration. The return flight, #CI23, departed ONT at 3:45 p.m. with 338 passengers and crew members.

The carrier serves the new route with Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft equipped with 358 seats, including 40 in Premium Business Class and 62 in Premium Economy Class.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing.

Bottom Copyright Photo: China Airlines Boeing 777-309 ER B-18007 (msn 43982) (Boeing special colors) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941349.

China Airlines aircraft slide show:

China Airlines to fly daily to Ontario, CA

China Airlines has made this announcement:

Prompted by strong customer demand, China Airlines has expanded its bookings between Taiwan and Ontario International Airport (ONT) to seven days a week in anticipation of the scheduled March 25, 2018 launch of service.

When China Airlines announced in September that it would initiate service between ONT and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the plan was to fly the nonstop route four days a week. However, customer demand has been so strong that the airline has expanded its bookings – two months before the first scheduled flight.

Daily China Airlines flights from TPE will arrive at ONT at 1:20 p.m. with return service departing ONT at 3:45 p.m. China Airlines, the first carrier to offer nonstop, trans-oceanic passenger service to ONT, will serve the new route with a Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft. The scheduled flight time is 14 hours, 10 minutes.

China Airlines aircraft slide show:

China Airlines starts nonstop Taipei – London Gatwick flights

China Airlines began operating Taipei-London (Gatwick) service on December 1, 2017 with the new A350-900 aircraft with four flights a week. This route makes China Airlines the only airline in Taiwan to offer nonstop flights to London. The introduction of nonstop flights to London represents a major boost to China Airlines’ European network. With London, China Airlines now flies nonstop flights to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Frankfurt (Germany), Vienna (Austria) and Rome (Italy) and now London. China Airlines will operate 22 weekly flights to five European destinations and is the only Taiwan-based airline that currently operates so many nonstop flights between Taiwan and Europe.

The China Airlines CI069/CI070 Taipei-London service departs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on the latest A350-900 aircraft, which are equipped with 32 Premium Business Class, 31 Premium Economy Class and 243 Economy Class seats. Passengers who opt to fly nonstop with China Airlines will reach their destination in just 13 hours, saving between 3 to 7 hours of transit and stopover time.

China Airlines is also strengthening its Oceania network as well to complement the launch of its UK service. From December 1, the Taipei-Sydney route will be increased to two daily services and Taipei-Brisbane-Auckland will be upgraded to one service daily.

China Airlines takes delivery of an Airbus A350-900 powered with biofuel mix

China Airlines of Taiwan has become the second airline to join a program to use a blend of traditional and sustainable biofuels to power aircraft for delivery flights from Airbus.

The aircraft involved is the tenth A350-900 for China Airlines, which left the manufacturer’s delivery centre in Toulouse on December 1, 2017 for its new home in Taipei with a 10 percent blend of sustainable jet fuel in its tanks.

The sustainable fuel option for delivery flights has been developed by Airbus in association with Air Total, the aviation subsidiary of the global energy operator. In order to stock the eco-friendly product, Air Total has installed the first ever biofuel station adjacent to the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse. A total of 21 aircraft have so far been delivered by Airbus since the facility was inaugurated in May 2016.

In addition to Toulouse, Airbus is now working towards introducing the option for the use of biofuels for delivery flights from its facilities in Hamburg, Germany and Mobile, US. First deliveries from these sites are set to begin in 2018. The option will also subsequently become available from the company’s facility in Tianjin, China.

Reflecting its strong commitment towards eco-efficiency, Airbus was the first manufacturer to offer its customers the option of delivering new aircraft with a blend of sustainable fuel. As part of its wider environmental strategy, the company Airbus intends to continue its efforts by collaborating with all stakeholders in the biofuels sector.

Photo: Airbus.