China Airlines and Air France codeshare Taipei–Paris direct flights now on sale

China Airlines announced today (29th) that it has partnered with Air France to operate the Taipei–Paris direct flight route under a codeshare agreement starting April 16, 2018. The route will have three weekly flights, and flight promotions are now available, with round-trip economy class tickets starting from NT$18,500 (excluding tax). Travelers are invited to embark on a romantic journey to the City of Light this spring.

This year, China Airlines has repeatedly expressed its intention to secure direct flights to Paris. When Air France, also a member of the SkyTeam alliance, announced in early December that it would resume the Taipei–Paris route—which had been suspended for 20 years—starting next year, speculation arose about potential collaboration between the two airlines. Today, China Airlines officially confirmed that it will codeshare this route with Air France. Each flight will offer approximately 100 seats across business class, premium economy, and economy class for China Airlines passengers.

China Airlines stated that this is the first time the two companies have cooperated under a joint codeshare, expanding their route networks and maximizing alliance benefits. The Taipei–Paris CI-9237 flight will operate every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, departing Taipei at 10:25 AM and arriving in Paris at 4:20 PM. The return flight, Paris–Taipei CI-9238, will operate every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, departing Paris at 1:35 PM and arriving in Taipei at 8:15 AM the following day.

France is the most visited country in the world by international tourists, with approximately 85 million visitors annually. Tourism contributes about 6.5% to the country’s overall GDP, and its long-standing culinary culture is a major draw, making France a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts around the globe. As the capital, Paris is a cultural hub and one of the world’s most important global metropolises, home to famous attractions such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), France is among the top three countries in terms of passenger traffic between Taiwan and Europe. From January to October 2017, the Taiwan–Europe air travel market saw an increase of approximately 23% compared to the same period last year, indicating strong and steady growth prospects for the European market.

China Airlines has been introducing 10 new Boeing 777s and 14 new Airbus A350s to enhance its global flight network capacity. It also operates exclusive direct flights to Frankfurt, Germany, and Rome, Italy, and began direct flights to London, UK, starting December 1. At the same time, the airline has strengthened ties with alliance partners and currently codeshares with other SkyTeam members such as KLM, ITA Airways, Czech Airlines, and Air Europa, extending its reach to cities including Manchester, UK; Prague, Czech Republic; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. With the addition of Air France as a new partner, China Airlines takes another step forward in expanding its presence in the European market.