Alex Young

Taiwan's China Airlines Group owns China Airlines. Headquartered at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, China Airlines is the flag carrier in the Taiwan region.

 

China Airlines was established in December 1959, initially with two PBY Catalina aircraft for charter operations.

 

In 1962, China Airlines launched its first scheduled domestic flight from Taipei to Hualien. The addition of the Boeing 707 fleet allows China Airlines to provide services in more regions.

 

In February 1970, China Airlines launched the first trans-Pacific flight to San Francisco via Tokyo.

 

In 1976, China Airlines introduced its first 747-100s and immediately placed them on its route to Los Angeles. A year later, the introduction of four brand new Boeing 747SPs allowed China Airlines to provide nonstop services from Taipei to its North American Destinations.

 

China Airlines was one of Boeing 747-400's most prominent clients in the 1990s. It also opened its round-the-world service using the 747s (Taipei-Anchorage-New York-Amsterdam-Dubai-Taipei).

 

In 1993, China Airlines was listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. 

 

In 1995, to avoid political controversy, China Airlines introduced the "Plum Blossom" logo to replace the Chinese national flag that previously appeared on its fuselage.

 

In 2003, China Airlines launched its first charter flights between Taipei and mainland China. The regular flights began in 2009.

 

In 2010, China Airlines signed an agreement to join the Sky team, becoming the first Taiwanese carrier to join an airline alliance.

 

In 2014, China Airlines announced the launch of the "NexGen" program, which aims to present a new brand image of China Airlines to its passengers, showcasing the beauty of the orient and its unique cultural creativity. Currently, China Airlines has completed the program's first phase, creating a new brand image to show the unique cultural characteristics of Taiwan to passengers around the world.