China Airlines

www.china-airlines.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Competitive business class services

Family Traveler

3/5

Fair family-oriented services

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

4/5

Good list of adventure destinations in Asia/Pacific region

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Competitive pricing, but not always the lowest in the region

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

4/5

Above average accessibility

Long Term Traveler

3/5

Decent reach in the region

Novice Traveler

4/5

User-friendly airline

Introduction

China Airlines is the flag carrier of Taiwan. 54% of the airline owned by the government of Taiwan. The China Air began flying in 1959. It was originally wholly owned by government of Taiwan and concentrated on developing its domestic routes.

After two decades, China Airlines began to branch out to international destinations such as Los Angeles, Amsterdam and New York. The airline will be joining the Sky Team Alliance in 2011, a major step forward in its development as a recognizable international carrier. They are also working on modernizing their fleet and have submitted a series of new aircraft orders to airplane maker Boeing.

Ratings

Important Factors 4/5

Average Delay

71%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Customer Satisfaction Rating

4 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A330, A340, A350; Boeing 737, 747-400

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Manila, Amsterdam, London, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore

Location of Hub

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei)

Countries Served

Taiwan, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany, UK, US, Sweden

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

Taipei-Hong Kong, Taipei-Anchorage; Hong Kong-Kaohsiung, Taipei-Tokyo

In-Flight 4/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

International routes and all flights over 180 minutes

Food Quality

3/5

In-flight Menu

Standard snacks and Chinese/Taiwanese dishes

Average Leg Room

31-34 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

DYNASTY Magazine, TV, games and audio on flights equipped with AVOD

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

All flights except US/Canada go by weight system US/Canada: 2 bags (under 50 lbs each)

Weight Limits and Restrictions

Non-North American flights: Business class30 Kg, Economy class 20 Kg

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

Very good

Special Needs 4/5

Handicap Accessibility

Above average accessibility (wall mounted basinets, oxygen, etc)

Pets

In cargo only except for service dogs, fee based on weight and size of animal and cage

Special Offers /Partners 4/5

Airline Alliance Membership

SkyTeam

Hotel Partners

Dynasty Flyer

Competing Airlines

Cathay Pacific, Eva Air

Strengths

Good reach in East Asia
Often have cheap trans-Pacific fares
Growing airline that will soon join a major airline alliance

Weaknesses

Not the highest quality option in the region
Government-owned airline
Not yet part of an alliance (limited short term mileage earning potential).

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

China Airlines runs a frequent flier program known as Dynasty flier. It allows users earn miles while flying on the airline. Currently, China Airlines is not part of an alliance, so there is little chance of earning miles outside of flying directly on the airline. However, the airline is slated to join Skyteam in 2011. Dynasty Flier also awards status points. Unfortunately, these points expire after a year, so the rewards program is not as useful as it is on some other airlines. Dynasty Lounges, accessible for elite Dynasty members and premium class passengers, are located in China Airlines’ hub and focus cities.

Conclusion

China Airlines is a good choice for travelers crossing the Pacific. With high quality-high cost carriers like Eva Air, Cathay Pacific and Asiana the most popular Asian carriers operating US-Asia flights, China Airlines is often a cheaper choice and a convenient one, since it is easy to pick up connecting flights in the airline’s hub in Taipei. The airline is growing, but is still not on par with the region’s best carriers in terms of in-flight services and overall quality.