China Airlines launches flights to London! Estimated summer peak season increase to daily flights. In 2018, codeshare flights to Paris with Air France.

China Airlines celebrated the launch of its London service with a grand inaugural gala held locally on the afternoon of December 1 (late night December 1 in Taipei). Distinguished guests included Ambassador Lin Yung-lo, Taiwan’s representative to the UK; Greg Hands, UK Minister of State for Trade Policy at the Department for International Trade; Lord Faulkner of Worcester, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Taiwan; Carolyn Davidson, Director of the British Office Taipei; Wang Mei-hua, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs; Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer of London Gatwick Airport; and Wang Ming-teh, Deputy Mayor of Taoyuan City, among others, all gathered to celebrate the successful maiden flight.

▲ London Gatwick Airport offers faster customs and baggage claim times, with convenient transport links to central London.

Becoming Taiwan’s only airline with non-stop flights to London, China Airlines operates the latest A350-900 XWB fleet for this route. The non-stop service saves 3 to 7 hours compared to connecting flights, taking just around 13 hours to reach the destination. Compared to other airlines departing from Taiwan that require transfers, this provides greater comfort and convenience for passengers. Gatwick Airport, compared to London’s largest Heathrow Airport, has shorter customs and baggage claim waiting times, with efficient connections to central London and major cities across the UK, making both transit and entry/exit procedures smoother.

▲ Hsieh Su-chien said that initially there will be four weekly flights to London, with plans to increase to daily services during next year’s peak season.

In the initial phase of flights to London, there will be four weekly departures—Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Su-chien mentioned that the booking rate for December is around 82%, which is considered good for the current off-peak season. With promising prospects for this route, it is estimated that during the summer peak season next year, the frequency can be increased to daily flights.

Additionally, since London Gatwick Airport offers China Airlines favorable time slots, travelers from New Zealand and Australia transiting via Taipei to London will find the timing well-aligned. For New Zealand and Australia, with about 1.8 million passengers traveling to the UK annually, this route is expected to attract more transit passengers. In coordination with the launch to the UK, China Airlines has also strengthened its Oceania network. Starting December 1, Taipei–Sydney flights will increase to two round trips daily, and Taipei–Brisbane–Auckland flights will increase to one daily.

▲ China Airlines continues to expand its presence in Europe, with plans to cooperate with Air France next spring, at minimum through codeshare agreements.

Following the launch of direct flights to London, China Airlines’ European network has further expanded, including direct services to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Frankfurt (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and Rome (Italy). In total, China Airlines now operates flights to five European destinations, with 22 weekly flights, making it the airline with the most direct flight routes between Taiwan and Europe.

Hsieh Su-chien also announced future expansion plans, noting that in addition to the trial flight to Ontario, USA, on January 25 next year, discussions with Air France are actively underway due to its planned resumption of Taipei flights next year. It is expected that by spring, codeshare-operated Taipei–Paris flights will be available.