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, transfering to another airline. In recent years, the airline has had to struggle with the negative public perception caused by a string of major crashes. Its main competitor is EVA Airways.
Code Data
-
IATA Code: CI
-
ICAO Code: CAL
- Callsign: Dynasty
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). In 2002, China Airlines operated the last scheduled international flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport before all Tokyo international flights were moved to Narita Airport.
In 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, and 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 hit a hillside after major engine trouble, killing five people.
1993 saw China Airlines listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
In 1994 an Airbus A300 of the airline crashed at Nagoya, Japan, and 264 people died. This accident happened during landing. Searching for a fresh new identity, China Airlines in 1995 introduced the Blossoming Flower tail logo, replacing the ROC national colors.
In 1998 another incident occurred when another China Airlines A300 crashed during landing in Taipei, killing 204.
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.
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.
Services
Fleet
The China Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at March 2005):
External Links
See also
