China Airlines launches flights to London starting December 1st — debut flight fully booked, non-stop 13-hour journey

China Airlines’ inaugural London-bound flight was operated by an A350 “Blue Magpie” special livery aircraft, which was fully booked with 306 passengers on board. To celebrate the maiden voyage, the airline specially created an early British-themed atmosphere in the departure lounge and held a celebration ceremony. Many passengers on the first flight were pleasantly surprised and took photos with the signage. In his speech, China Airlines General Manager Hsieh Shih-chien said that initially, there will be four weekly flights to London, but the ultimate goal is to reach one flight per day.

▲ Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, China Airlines General Manager Hsieh Shih-chien, and Taoyuan Airport General Manager Hsiao Teng-ke attended the inauguration ceremony and ribbon-cutting. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)

Ms. Fan, who took the inaugural London flight, said she had long planned to visit the UK, but previously there were no direct flights. The existing options involved long flight durations and layovers, making both takeoff and landing less comfortable. Upon learning that China Airlines would offer direct flights to London, she decided to go with friends. Apart from the convenience, it also saved a lot of time. She added that she would choose China Airlines again if she visits London in the future.

▲ China Airlines resumes flights to London using the A350-900 XWB fleet. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines)

China Airlines previously flew to London between March 2010 and March 2012, but at that time used the A340 aircraft, which was relatively fuel-intensive and costly, leading to the suspension of the route. This time, with the re-launch of non-stop flights to London, travelers can save 3 to 7 hours of transfer or layover time, reaching the destination in just about 13 hours (with an additional hour during winter headwinds). Compared to other airlines, Cathay Pacific has a layover in Hong Kong with a total flight time of 15 hours and 50 minutes; EVA Air has a layover in Bangkok with a total flight time of 17 hours and 25 minutes; Singapore Airlines has a layover in Singapore with a total flight time of 19 hours and 10 minutes; and Emirates has a layover in Dubai with a total flight time of 19 hours and 40 minutes.

▲ China Airlines’ non-stop flights to London take just 13 hours, giving you more time to explore famous UK attractions. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines, authorized by VisitBritain)

With the launch of direct flights to London starting December 1st, China Airlines has expanded its European network. Along with existing direct services to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Frankfurt (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Rome (Italy), the airline now operates flights to five major European destinations, offering 22 weekly flights — making it the carrier with the most direct Europe–Taiwan routes. China Airlines operates the Taipei–London route every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday under flight numbers CI069/CI070, using the newest A350-900 XWB aircraft. The cabin configuration includes 32 luxury business class seats, 31 premium economy seats, and 243 economy class seats.

To celebrate the launch of the Taipei–London route, China Airlines is offering an early bird special promotion. Round-trip luxury economy class tickets from Taiwan start at NT$31,360 (excluding tax), and round-trip economy class tickets start at NT$18,620 (excluding tax). The offer is available on China Airlines’ official website from now until December 31, 2017. For details, please refer to:https://www.china-airlines.com/tw/zh/.