No chance to greet the dawn at high altitude? China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines cancel their 2018 "Dawn Flight"

▲ Mandarin Airlines had offered a dawn flight for the past three years, but there are no such plans this year. (Photo / Provided by Mandarin Airlines)

Lifestyle Center / Taipei Report

As 2017 draws to a close, many people are starting to plan how to welcome 2018. For three consecutive years since 2015, China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines had organized the "Dawn Flight" program, taking passengers to eastern Taiwan to greet the earliest sunrise in the country from an altitude of 35,000 feet. However, as of now, neither airline has announced plans for a 2018 Dawn Flight.

According to estimates by the Central Weather Bureau, the earliest sunrise in 2018 is expected to appear at 6:33 a.m. on New Year's Day on Orchid Island, an outlying island. On the main island, the earliest sunrise will occur at 6:35 a.m. in Longkeng, Kenting, Pingtung, and at Sanciyuan, Taitung. China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines had launched the "Dawn Flight" for three consecutive years, typically beginning promotions around the end of November, but no related news has emerged this year.

▲ In the past, passengers could take the dawn flight to greet the earliest New Year's sunrise at high altitude in eastern Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by Mandarin Airlines)

Mandarin Airlines explained that due to the introduction of new ATR aircraft at the end of this year and numerous related activities, they did not plan a 2018 Dawn Flight itinerary. China Airlines responded by expressing gratitude for passengers' support and love, noting that the airline irregularly offers a variety of products, including themed charter flights and package tours, and encouraged passengers to stay tuned.

However, according to analysis by travel industry insiders, the response to China Airlines' "2017 Love Together" Dawn Flight on New Year's Day this year was not as expected. The two-day, one-night Hong Kong itinerary with 158 seats did not sell out, and the repetition of destinations—Hong Kong in 2017 and Macau in 2016—may have affected passengers' willingness to participate.