China Airlines
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China Airlines (CAL, Chinese: 中華航空, commonly abbreviated 華航) is the state-owned airline of the Republic of China and is based in Taipei, Taiwan (not to be confused with Air China, which is owned by the People's Republic of China).
The airline, based at Chiang Kai Shek International Airport, currently flies to many destinations in Asia, Europe, North America and the South Pacific. Because of political obstacles due to the establishment of the Three Links, it does not have regularly scheduled flights into mainland China; passengers to mainland China must go through Hong Kong, transferring to another airline. Its main competitor is EVA Airways.
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History
Before the Chinese Civil War, there were a total of three airlines operating in the Republic of China. One was Civil Air Transport, created by General Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer in 1946. The other two were joint ventures of Pan American World Airways with the ROC state, and Lufthansa with the ROC state. After the Chinese Civil War, only Civil Air Transport moved along with the ROC government to Taiwan.
With a total fleet of 2 PBY Amphibians, China Airlines was established in 1959 to create an airline with shares completely held by the ROC state. During the 1960s, China Airlines was able to establish its first domestic and international routes, and in 1962, a flight from Taipei to Hualien became the airline's first domestic service. Growth continued and in 1966, Hanoi,Vietnam became the airline's first international destination.
The next 22 years saw sporadic but large growth for the company. Routes were opened to Los Angeles International Airport, JFK International Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Charles De Gaulle International Airport, among others. Jets were acquired, and China Airlines employed such planes as the Boeing 747 in their fleet. In 1984, the airline launched a new service to Amsterdam, the airline's first European destination. Later, the airline inaugurated its own round-the-world flight until 1986 or 1987: (Taipei-Anchorage-New York, New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport)-Amsterdam-Dubai-Taipei).
1993 saw China Airlines listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
The airline unveiled "blossom flower", replacing the national flag, on October 7, 1995.
On April 17, 2002, China Airlines operated the last scheduled international flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport before all Tokyo international flights were moved to Narita Airport on April 18.
In recent years, pro-Taiwan independence activists have sought to rename the airline to "Taiwan Airlines", arguing that foreigners in the past have confused this airline with Air China and that "China" is not a representative name for an airline that does not service mainland China. In late 2004, President Chen Shui-bian proposed to rename all state-owned enterprises bearing the name "China" to "Taiwan." This was opposed by the pan-blue coalition. The issue was dropped after the ROC legislative election, 2004.
Accidents
- 1970, August 12, a YS-11 of the airline struck a ridge while landing at Taipei, killing 14 people. This was the first fatal incident the airline had.
- In 1971, a Caravelle airplane of China Airlines blew up after a bomb in it exploded, causing the deaths of 25 people over the Penghu Islands.
- In 1985 a China Airlines 747 at San Francisco International Airport suffered engine trouble, resulting in two injuries
- In 1986 another China Airlines Boeing product, this time a 737, crashed in Makung, Penghu, with 13 killed.
- In 1991 at Wanli, Taiwan, a China Airlines 747 freighter hit a hillside after separation of Nos.3 & 4 engines, killing five people.
- In 1994 an Airbus A300 of the airline crashed at Nagoya, Japan, and 264 people died. This accident happened during landing.
- In 1998 another incident occurred when another China Airlines A300 crashed during landing in Taipei, killing 196 and 7 on the ground, including the head of Taiwan Central Bank chief Hsu Yuan-Dong.
- In 2002, China Airlines Flight 611 broke up in midflight on the way to Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong from Chiang Kai Shek International Airport in Taiwan. All of the passengers and crew on board perished.
Services
Asia
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Europe
North America
- Canada
- United States
- Anchorage, Alaska (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport)
- Hagåtña, Guam (Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport)
- Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu International Airport)
- Houston, Texas (George Bush Intercontinental Airport)
- Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International Airport)
- New York, New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport)
- San Francisco, California (San Francisco International Airport)
- Seattle, Washington (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)
Oceania
Fleet
The China Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at April 30, 2005):
- 32 Boeing 747-400
- 7 Airbus A340-300
- 3 Airbus A330-300 (further 10 on order)
- 12 Boeing 737-800
- 10 Airbus A300-600
The airline is rumoured to purchase 10 Airbus A340-600.
External Links
- China Airlines (http://www.china-airlines.com/en/)
- China Airlines Fleet Detail (http://www.planemad.net/Airline/TW/China_Airlines_(CI_CAL)/Fleet.htm?show=all)
- China Airlines Passenger Opinions (http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/china.htm)
See also
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