China Airlines

China Airlines is a Taiwan-based passenger airline founded on 16 December 1959. Its international network connects Taiwan with destinations across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and it participates in the SkyTeam airline alliance.^{[1]China Airlines company profileChina Airlines · china-airlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]China Airlines destinationsChina Airlines · flights.china-airlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[3]China Airlines joins SkyTeamKLM / SkyTeam · news.klm.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details}

Early company

China Airlines began with 26 employees and a small fleet comprising one C-54 and two PBY aircraft. Its original capital was NT$400,000. These modest beginnings preceded the development of the international airline described in its later corporate reports. The founding date identifies the Taiwan-based company whose commercial identity continues under the China Airlines name.^{[4]2013 sustainability report: company milestonesChina Airlines · calec.china-airlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details}

International network and alliance

China Airlines joined SkyTeam in 2011, becoming the first Taiwanese member. Its accession added its own routes and cross-strait services to those of existing partners. The alliance connected the airline’s passenger network with other member carriers and provided a framework for reciprocal customer benefits. Its directly operated services and the wider destinations accessible through partners are therefore different measures of network reach.^{[3]China Airlines joins SkyTeamKLM / SkyTeam · news.klm.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]China Airlines destinationsChina Airlines · flights.china-airlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details}

Airbus A350 introduction

The airline received its first Airbus A350-900 on 30 September 2016. The initial aircraft had 306 seats, comprising 32 in premium business, 31 in premium economy and 243 in the main economy cabin. Airbus described an initial deployment on Taipei–Hong Kong services before planned long-haul flying to Amsterdam, Vienna and Rome. This introduced a new widebody generation into the airline’s passenger operation.^{[5]China Airlines becomes an A350 operatorAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details}

Engineering and further renewal

In January 2017 China Airlines and Airbus signed a memorandum covering development of maintenance, engineering and technical training capabilities in Taiwan. The agreement included the airline’s associated TAMECO maintenance business. Further fleet investment included a firm order for ten A350-1000 aircraft in March 2025, following an earlier commitment. That order concerned future fleet development, separate from the A350-900s already introduced.^{[6]Maintenance, engineering and training agreementAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[7]China Airlines finalises ten A350-1000 ordersAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details}