Editing China Airlines (section)

==History==

===Formation and early years (1959–1970)===
[[File:Boeing 727-109C B-1822 China Als SIN 14.09.74 edited-2.jpg|thumb|left|China Airlines [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-09C]] at [[Paya Lebar Air Base|Singapore International Airport]] in 1974]]

With a fleet of two [[PBY Catalina|PBY Amphibians]], China Airlines was established on December 16, 1959,<ref name="CFigures"/> with its shares completely held by the [[Republic of China]] government.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} It was founded by I Fuen,<ref>{{cite news |title=Untold stories of Black Bat Squadron unveiled in Hsinchu 「黑蝙蝠中隊」可歌可泣歷史 新竹重現 |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2012/03/24/2003528536 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=March 24, 2012}}</ref> a retired [[ROC Air Force]] officer, and initially concentrated on [[charter flights]]. During the 1960s, China Airlines was able to establish its first scheduled routes. In October 1962, a flight from [[Taipei]] to [[Hualien City|Hualien]] became the airline's first domestic service.<ref name=history>{{cite web | title= Company History | publisher = China Airlines | url = https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/en/about-us/history | access-date = December 22, 2016}}</ref> Later, the airline introduced international flights to [[South Vietnam]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Japan]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} With the airline's first two [[Boeing]] [[Boeing 707|707]] aircraft, [[Transpacific flight|trans-Pacific flights]] to [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] via [[Tokyo]] were initiated on February 2, 1970. The expansion of the company's 707 fleet also permitted more services in [[Southeast Asia]], [[Northeast Asia]], and [[North America]] (via Japan and [[Hawaii]]).{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

=== International expansion (1970–1995) ===
Following the standard utilization of the wide-body [[Boeing 747|747]] on the highly profitable Trans-Pacific – United States routes, China Airlines introduced its first two 747-100s (ex-[[Delta Air Lines]] aircraft) in 1976 and immediately placed them on its Hong Kong-Taipei-Tokyo-[[Honolulu]]-[[Los Angeles]] route. Shortly thereafter, four brand new Boeing [[Boeing 747SP|747SPs]] (Special Performance) were introduced in 1977. In 1975, three years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, all flights between Taiwan and Japan were suspended, and not resumed until the following year.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aF0vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FdsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3605%2C2601571 Flights resumed], [[UPI]], ''[[Beaver County Times]]'', May 12, 1976, page 41</ref> The 747SP aircraft made it possible for China Airlines to fly daily nonstop services from Taipei to its North American destinations without stopping over in Japan. It also allowed the airline to introduce flights to [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[South Africa]]. In 1979, the airline switched all operations from the smaller [[Taipei Songshan Airport]] to the newly built Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport (now [[Taoyuan International Airport]]). Following the introduction of 747-200s, the airline introduced its first European destination, [[Amsterdam]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

In 1978, with all airlines relocating to [[Narita International Airport]] (then New Tokyo International Airport), China Airlines was the sole foreign carrier to use [[Haneda Airport|Haneda]], which at the time was an exclusive domestic facility; the premise being that air carriers from the [[PRC]] and Taiwan were prevented from crossing paths at any Japanese airports.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} [[EVA Air]] joined China Airlines later on, although both eventually moved to Narita, with CAL moving on April 18, 2002.

The next 20 years saw sporadic but far-reaching growth for the company. Later, the airline inaugurated its own round-the-world flight: (Taipei-[[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]-[[New York City|New York]]-Amsterdam-[[Dubai]]-Taipei).{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

On February 8, 1990, China Airlines received the first of its initial five [[Boeing 747-400]]s (B-161).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} 1993 saw the airline listed on the [[Taiwan Stock Exchange]]. The new 747-400s and an earlier order with [[Airbus]] for over a dozen [[A300B4]] and [[A300-600R]]s wide body regional jets allowed for addition destination growth. During the 1990s, China Airlines also bought the [[McDonnell Douglas]] [[MD-11]] and had to compete with a new competitor, [[EVA Air]]. They also founded [[Mandarin Airlines|another airline]] to deal with the PRC-ROC dispute which borrowed aircraft from China Airlines itself.<ref name="ttcal" /> One of China Airlines's 747-400s (B-164) was also used by [[Lee Teng-hui|President Lee Tung-hui]] during his trip to the United States in [[Third Taiwan Strait Crisis#Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell|June 1995]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=文化部國家文化資料庫 |url=http://nrch.culture.tw/view.aspx?keyword=747&advanced=&s=2395847&id=0000739151&proj=MOC_IMD_001# |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=nrch.culture.tw}}</ref>

[[File:Boeing 747-409, China Airlines AN0198833.jpg|alt=China Airlines Boeing 747-400 at Los Angeles International Airport (B-162). Second 747-400 bought by China Airlines on the Taipei to Los Angeles route in the old Pre-1995 Livery.|thumb|China Airlines [[Boeing 747-400]] at [[Los Angeles International Airport]] (B-162). Second 747-400 bought by China Airlines on the [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei]] to Los Angeles route in the old pre-1995 livery.]]

===Change of logo and livery (1995–2010)===
[[File:China Airlines MD-11 (N489GX) departing Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.jpg|thumb| [[MD-11|An MD-11]] wearing the new China Airlines pink flower livery at [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei Chiang Kai-Shek (now Taoyuan) International Airport]] in 2001]]

As the [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)'s]] [[flag carrier]], China Airlines has been affected by disputes over the [[political status of Taiwan|political status of Republic of China (Taiwan)]], is under pressure from the [[Chinese Communist Party]], and was barred from flying into a number of countries maintaining diplomatic relations with the [[People's Republic of China]] ("Mainland China"). As a result, in the mid 1990s, China Airlines subsidiary [[Mandarin Airlines]] took over some of its [[Sydney]] and [[Vancouver]] international routes. Starting from October 7, 1995, partly as a way to avoid the international controversy, China Airlines unveiled its "plum blossom" logo,<ref name=history /><ref name="ttcal">{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Time: The China Airlines that was never based in China |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2021/10/03/2003765421 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> replacing the [[flag of the Republic of China|national flag]] which had previously appeared on the tail fins ([[empennage]]), and the [[aircraft livery]] from the red-white-blue national colours on the fuselage of its aircraft.<ref name="Murphy">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/14/news/14iht-tainote_0.html|title=Taipei Notebook : A Flag-Carrier That Won't|last=Murphy|first=Kevin|date=August 14, 1995|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 11, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The plum blossom (''[[Prunus mume]]'') is the Republic of China's [[National Flower of the Republic of China|National Flower]].

Throughout the 1990s, the airline employed many ex-ROC Air Force pilots. Due to the company's poor safety record in the 1990s, China Airlines began to change its pilot recruitment practices and the company began to actively recruit civilian-trained pilots with proven track records. In addition, the company began recruiting university graduates as trainees in its own pilot training program. The company also modified its maintenance and operational procedures. These decisions were instrumental in the company's improved safety record, culminating in the company's recognition by the [[IATA Operational Safety Audit]] (IOSA).<ref>{{Cite press release  | title = China Airlines Once Again Passes Rigorous Safety Audit  | publisher = China Airlines  | date = March 18, 2009  | url = http://www.china-airlines.com/en/newsen/newsen000542.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120228/http://www.china-airlines.com/en/newsen/newsen000542.htm | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | access-date = December 22, 2016}}</ref>

During the 1990s and early 2000s, China Airlines placed orders for various airliners including the [[Airbus A330]], [[Airbus A340]], [[Boeing 737-800]], as well as for additional 747-400s (both the passenger and freighter version).

Due to improving [[cross-strait relations]], the first [[cross-strait charter]] flights between Taiwan and China were introduced in 2003, with China Airlines' flight 585, operated by a Boeing 747-400, being the first Taiwanese flight to legally land in China.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} (The aircraft took off from [[Taoyuan International Airport|Taipei Chiang Kai-Shek (now Taoyuan) Airport]], stopped over at [[Hong Kong Airport]], and landed at [[Shanghai Pudong Airport]].) In 2005, the first nonstop cross-strait charter flights were initiated, with China Airlines' flight 581 ([[Taoyuan Airport]] to [[Beijing Capital Airport]]) being the first flight of the program to depart from Taiwan.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} In 2008, the first regular weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China started operating, with daily charter flights introduced later in the year. In 2009, regularly scheduled cross-strait flights were finally introduced.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

China Airlines signed an agreement to begin the process of joining [[airline alliance]] [[SkyTeam]] on September 14, 2010<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=China Airlines Joins SkyTeam |url=http://www.skyteam.com/en/about/press-releases/press-releases-2010/china-airlines-joins-skyteam/ |publisher=SkyTeam |date=September 14, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2016}}</ref> and officially became a full member on September 28, 2011.<ref name="skyteam">{{Cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201009040010&Type=aECO|title=China Airlines to join Sky Team Alliance|author=Wang Shu-fen|date=September 4, 2010|work=Focus Taiwan|access-date=December 13, 2010|author2=Huang, Frances}}</ref> This was marked by an update to the logo of the airline and the typeface in which "China Airlines" is printed. The carrier was the first Taiwanese airline to join an airline alliance.

=== 2012–present ===
[[File:B-18201 B747-400 China Airlines (6340376056).jpg|thumb|left|China Airlines [[Boeing 747-400]] at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]] in 2011]]

Since 2012, China Airlines has participated in the Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement (PGGM) Project, led by the [[Environmental Protection Administration (Republic of China)|Environmental Protection Administration]], [[Ministry of Science and Technology (Republic of China)|Ministry of Science and Technology]], and [[National Central University]]. As part of the collaboration, China Airlines installed "In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS)" on three aircraft: B-18806 ([[Airbus A340|Airbus A340-300]]) in June 2012, B-18317 ([[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-300]]) in July 2016, and B-18316 (Airbus A330-300) in July 2017. B-18806 also wore "The Official Airline for Climate Monitoring" special livery. Between July 2012 and September 2017, the PGGM fleet collected greenhouse gases-data from a total of 4682 flights. In May 2017, B-18806 was retired. B-18316 and B-18317 are expected to continue collecting data until 2027.<ref>{{cite web|title=CAL Annual Report 2016|url=https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/Images/annual_2016_zh_tcm40-24643.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121328/https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/Images/annual_2016_zh_tcm40-24643.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=live|website=China Airlines|access-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="PGGM Fleet">{{cite news|url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20170911/1201293/|newspaper=蘋果日報|date=September 11, 2017|script-title=zh:華航3架氣候觀測機5年來飛4682次 做了這些事|access-date=September 11, 2017}}</ref>

In December 2013, China Airlines announced its new joint venture with Singaporean low-cost carrier [[Tigerair Holdings]] (now defunct and replaced by [[Budget Aviation Holdings]]) to establish [[Tigerair Taiwan]]. The new airline flew its inaugural flight to [[Singapore Changi Airport|Singapore]] on September 26, 2014, and became the first, and currently only, Taiwanese [[low-cost carrier]]. Tigerair Holdings previously held 10 percent of the shares. As disputes unfolded surrounding the partnership, China Airlines Group re-negotiated with Tigerair Holdings and has now taken full ownership of Tigerair Taiwan.<ref name="Tig1" /><ref name="Tigerair Ownership">{{cite web|url=http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/business/paper/1061842|website=Liberty Times|date=December 15, 2016|script-title=zh:虎航成華航100％子公司|access-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:B-18007@PEK (20200403123859).jpg|thumb| A China Airlines [[Boeing 777-300ER]] co-branded with [[Boeing Dreamliner]] colors]]

In March 2014, China Airlines announced the "NexGen (Next Generation)" plan to complement its then-upcoming [[Boeing 777-300ER]] and [[Airbus A350-900|Airbus A350-900 XWB]]. Designed to refresh the brand image of the carrier, the plan included product innovations, new uniforms, and fleet replacements. Through cooperating with designers from the [[Greater China region]], the carrier hoped to introduce unique product offerings that could showcase the beauty of the Orient and the cultural creativity of Taiwan.<ref name="CUniform">{{cite web|last1=Shih|first1=Kai-Chin|title=China Airlines "Next Generation Plan" Part I: The New Boeing 777-300ER Cabin|url=http://talkairlines.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/china-airlines-new-boeing-777-300er-cabin/|website=Talkairlines|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128083919/https://talkairlines.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/china-airlines-new-boeing-777-300er-cabin/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first phase of the plan has been completed. In addition to new cabin designs, also introduced were the renovated Dynasty Lounges at [[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]] and the debut of new [[William Chang]]-designed uniforms.<ref name="CI New Uniforms">{{cite web|title=China Airlines Debuts William Cheung-Designed Uniforms|url=https://talkairlines.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/talkbranding-china-airlines-debuts-william-cheung-designed-uniforms/|website=talkairlines|date=June 12, 2015|access-date=June 13, 2015|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407010119/https://talkairlines.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/talkbranding-china-airlines-debuts-william-cheung-designed-uniforms/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new fleet types allowed the retirement of older aircraft; the A340-300 fleet was fully retired in June 2017, while the 747-400 has been fully replaced on long-haul routes. With the First Class-equipped 747s flying regionally and new long-haul aircraft not featuring First Class, China Airlines terminated First Class services in 2016. First Class seats are now sold as Business Class.<ref name="CUniform" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://udn.com/news/story/9/1994337|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2016|publisher=UDN|language=zh-tw|script-title=zh:華航新空巴入列 歐洲線12月全數直飛|website=UDN}}</ref>

Future phases of the NexGen plan include ordering new aircraft to replace older fleet types. In May 2019, the airline announced that it will be introducing the [[Airbus A320neo family|Airbus A321neo]], including 14 leased, 11 purchased, and five options, along with three orders and three options for the [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777F]]. The A321neo will replace the Boeing 737-800 while the 777F will replace the Boeing 747-400F. Cabin design on the A321neo will continue the NexGen design ethos to provide passenger experience cohesive with that of the 777 and A350.<ref name="A321neo Order">{{cite web|url=https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/discover/news/press-release/20190508-2|script-title=zh:中華航空「新窄體客機評估遴選暨新機引進案」新聞稿|website=China Airlines|access-date=May 8, 2019|title=20190508-2}}</ref><ref name="77F Order">{{cite web|url=https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/discover/news/press-release/20190508-1|script-title=zh:中華航空「新長程貨機引進案」新聞稿|website=China Airlines|access-date=May 8, 2019|title=20190508-1}}</ref>

Focus has also been put on tapping the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market. In January 2015, China Airlines established Taiwan Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Co. (TAMECO), an airline MRO company focusing on Boeing 737 and 777, and Airbus A320, A330, A340, and A350 XWB families' fuselage maintenance. For the project, [[Airbus]] is providing a wide range of support, one of which is inviting China Airlines to join the Airbus MRO Alliance (AMA), alongside [[AAR Corp]], [[Aveos Fleet Performance|Aeroman]], [[Sabena technics]], [[Etihad Airways|Etihad Airways Engineering]], and [[GAMECO]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Airbus Customer Services launches Airbus MRO Alliance |url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2017/06/airbus-customer-services-launches-airbus-mro-alliance.html |website=Airbus |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Moreover, a joint-venture agreement has been signed with [[Tulsa]]-based Nordam, specializing in nacelle, thrust reversers, and composite materials, to establish the only Nordam repair center in Asia.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Lee Hsin-Yin|title=China Airlines eyeing aircraft maintenance business|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aeco/201503200022.aspx|access-date=December 22, 2016|agency=CNA|publisher=Focus Taiwan|ref=TAMECO}}</ref><ref name="MRO News">{{cite web|url=http://emd.china-airlines.com/lang-tc/news/newslist.html|publisher=中華航空公司機務組織|script-title=zh:新聞專區|access-date=December 15, 2017|archive-date=December 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215221217/http://emd.china-airlines.com/lang-tc/news/newslist.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first TAMECO hangar, to be completed in March 2019, will be able to accommodate 2 777/A350 and 3 737/A320 sized aircraft at the same time.<ref name="TAMECO Hangar">{{cite web|url=https://m.ctee.com.tw/livenews/aj/20180611003627-260410 |script-title=zh:國內最大！台飛新棚廠上樑 明年正式啟用|website=CTEE|access-date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>

Labor-management unrest has been a major issue at China Airlines over recent years. On June 25, 2016, the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union, representing some 2,500 cabin crew, staged the first strike in Taiwanese aviation history. A total of 122 passenger flights were cancelled during the day-long strike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20160625004081-260405|website=China Times|date=June 25, 2016 |script-title=zh:空服員罷工 華航2天營損2.8億元|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref> During the 2019 [[Lunar New Year]] season, over 600 pilots participated in a seven-day strike by the Taoyuan Union of Pilots. Over 200 flights were cancelled between February 8 and 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trad.cn.rfi.fr/%E6%B8%AF%E6%BE%B3%E5%8F%B0/20190215-%E7%88%AD%E6%AC%8A%E5%A5%AA%E4%BD%8D%E5%8D%BB%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E4%B8%8D%E5%96%84%E9%87%80%E6%88%90%E8%8F%AF%E8%88%AA%E5%8B%9E%E8%B3%87%E5%B0%8D%E5%B3%99%E6%90%8D%E5%A4%B1%E6%85%98%E9%87%8D |script-title=zh:爭權奪位卻管理不善釀成華航勞資對峙損失慘重|website=Radio France Internationale|date=February 15, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>

In July 2020, the DPP-led [[Legislative Yuan]] passed a resolution for the [[Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan)|Ministry of Transportation and Communications]] to rename the airline and redesign its liveries due to frequent confusion with [[Air China]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Taiwan legislature calls for China Airlines name change |author-first1=Keoni|author-last1=Everington|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3971556 |publisher=[[Taiwan News]] |date=July 22, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> The name change plans were on hold since 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=CAL holds off on name change: Wang - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/04/19/2003776849 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref>