China Airlines teams up with Air France to launch direct flights to Paris from April 16 next year; discounted round-trip tickets start at under NT$20,000!

▲ Starting April 16, 2018, China Airlines and Air France will operate the Taipei–Paris direct flight route under a codeshare agreement. (Photo provided by China Airlines)

Reported by Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei

China Airlines announced on the 29th that it will collaborate with Air France to operate the Taipei–Paris direct flight route under a codeshare agreement starting April 16, 2018, with three flights per week. The route will be operated by Air France, with each flight offering approximately 100 seats across business class, premium economy, and economy class for China Airlines passengers. China Airlines’ official website has launched promotional fares for this route, with round-trip economy class tickets from Taipei to Paris starting at NT$18,500 excluding tax.

Both China Airlines and Air France are members of the SkyTeam alliance. This marks their first collaboration under a joint codeshare agreement, expanding their route networks and maximizing alliance benefits. China Airlines Flight CI-9237 from Taipei to Paris will operate every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, departing Taipei at 10:25 and arriving in Paris at 16:20. The return flight, CI-9238 from Paris to Taipei, will operate every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, departing Paris at 13:35 and arriving in Taipei at 08:15 the following day.

France is the most visited country in the world, receiving around 85 million tourists annually. Tourism contributes approximately 6.5% to its overall GDP, and its long-standing culinary culture is a major draw, making it a must-visit destination for food lovers worldwide.

▲ The famous Louvre Museum in France. (Photo by reporter Wu Shang-da)

As the capital of France, Paris is one of the world’s major international metropolises, home to renowned attractions such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), France ranks among the top three countries in terms of passenger traffic between Taiwan and Europe. From January to October 2017, the inbound and outbound market between Taiwan and Europe saw an increase of about 23% compared to the same period last year, indicating strong and steady growth in the European market.

▲ Air France is returning to the Taiwanese market in 2018, operating the Taipei–Paris direct flight route with China Airlines. (Photo from Air France’s official fan page)

China Airlines has successively introduced 10 new Boeing 777s and 14 Airbus A350s to enhance its global route network capacity. It now exclusively operates direct flights to Frankfurt, Germany, and Rome, Italy, and began direct flights to London, UK, starting December 1. At the same time, it has strengthened partnerships with allied airlines, currently codesharing with fellow SkyTeam members such as KLM, ITA Airways, Czech Airlines, and Iberia to extend services to Manchester, UK; Prague, Czech Republic; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. These efforts provide passengers with more flexible and convenient route options. With the addition of Air France as a new partner, jointly operating flights between Taiwan and Europe, China Airlines takes another step forward in conquering the European air travel market.