Traveling the city by jogging: HNA General Manager says it’s even more fun than Discovery

▲ China Airlines launches Taichung–Nagoya route, facilitating passenger exchanges between the two cities. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines, the same applies below)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Keen observers may have noticed that China Airlines recently made subtle changes to the color of the giant eagle "Haidongqing" on its logo—slightly different from before, now more vibrant and youthful. This slight change mirrors the vitality and transformation that General Manager Han Liangzhong has infused into China Airlines, as well as his preferred way of traveling: jogging.

"I'm not the kind of runner who can take on a half marathon or full marathon, but I always bring my running shoes when I travel and use jogging to get to know the city." For sport-loving Han Liangzhong, each business trip often only allows him to move between the airport, hotel, and meeting venues, without really getting to know the city. That’s why he likes to seize spare moments, put on his running shoes, and jog around the area near his hotel.

"While jogging, you can see shops, pass through markets, and move among people from all walks of life, gradually getting to rediscover the city."For Han Liangzhong, seeing the city through his own steps allows him to appreciate it from different perspectives, while also being healthier and more interesting. As a result, he has left jogging footprints in many cities; if he stays at the same hotel for two nights, he will choose a different jogging route. "Once I was jogging around West Lake early in the morning and almost didn’t make it back in time for a breakfast meeting—I had to speed up!" Han Liangzhong recalls with a laugh.

▲ Han Liangzhong, General Manager of China Airlines. (Photo / Taken by Reporter Chen Ruizhong)

Aside from jogging, Han Liangzhong is not accustomed to the conventional itinerary of rushing by car to various tourist spots, then getting out, taking photos, and checking in. Han Liangzhong advises travelers:You can plan your own route, eat like the locals, play like the locals, and not obsess over visiting specific attractions. Instead, experience unseen sights through local performances, boat rides, self-driving, or jogging—ways that Discovery or National Geographic channels don’t show you. It’s more fun and truly allows you to experience life.

It is this energetic yet healthy-living pace that has enabled China Airlines, which has a 25-year history, to recently launch routes such as Taichung–Nagoya and Taichung–Wuxi, with plans to open Taipei–Seoul and Taipei–Oita routes. The airline has also updated its corporate image colors, bringing a fresh look. Han Liangzhong stated that besides international flights, ensuring transportation access for passengers in places like Penghu, Taitung, and Hualien is also one of China Airlines' greatest corporate responsibilities.

In Han Liangzhong’s view, every part of Taiwan has its own unique characteristics. Penghu has a strong island vacation atmosphere, and with new internationally branded chain hotels setting up, it has the potential to rival Phuket; Kinmen boasts historical culture, Taitung offers unique cultural landscapes, and Hualien appeals to various age groups—all with excellent tourism appeal. And China Airlines serves as the aerial bridge connecting these places.

"Some people might have visited Hualien during their graduation trip and never gone back since?" Han Liangzhong gives an example. Taiwanese travelers can actually use domestic flights to visit Hualien and revisit attractions like Taroko Gorge; for added variety, they can combine it with train travel to create a richer itinerary, perfect for a weekend domestic getaway to slowly explore Taiwan.

Besides boosting the domestic tourism market, Han Liangzhong also believes China Airlines can help attract more overseas tourists to Taiwan. He noted that many Hong Kong travelers enjoy flying from Hong Kong to Taichung to experience the city’s urban vibe and night market culture, along with attractions like Qingjing Farm. He believes every part of Taiwan has its charm, and with regional development and the power of online promotion, it can help attract overseas visitors and independent mainland travelers, driving Taiwan’s tourism growth.

▲ After launching the Wuxi route, it helps travelers visit attractions like Taihu Lake.

But no matter where China Airlines opens new routes, Han Liangzhong emphasizes that "flight safety always comes first." Flight safety concerns passengers’ lives and is the aspect airlines value most. Taking Taiwan’s outlying island airports, which are prone to fog, as an example, "people often take photos of China Airlines’ service desk at the airport and ask, ‘Why can others fly but you can’t?’" Han Liangzhong pointed out that many pilots face pressure, feeling that go-arounds or flight cancellations might make them seem incompetent, or lead to increased operational costs and trouble for ground staff, thus they’re reluctant to cancel or divert flights.

But China Airlines instills in its pilots the mindset of "Don’t be afraid—when in doubt, turn back!" When it's determined that a flight needs to return, the company not only encourages the pilot’s decision but also provides ground staff with full contingency resources to help calm passengers.Although every go-around or diversion means facing extra costs and subsequent fleet scheduling issues, Han Liangzhong said, "As the general manager, I bear the pressure of operational costs, but if it has to be spent, it must be—it’s better to face passenger complaints than to compromise on safety."

"The 'Xin' (信) in China Airlines stands for trust, so safety and punctuality are a must." Han Liangzhong believes that through the company’s policies, pilots, ground staff, and all employees understand the company’s commitment to safety and support for staff in tough situations. Only then can employee unity around safety and workplace morale be strengthened, enabling the airline to outperform others.

Currently, China Airlines operates 6 E190s and 2 737-800 passenger aircraft, and leases aircraft and crew from its parent company, China Airlines Group. In 2017, it will also welcome new 737-800s. Han Liangzhong said that in the future, in addition to enhancing connections between central Taiwan and overseas destinations, the airline will also increase the frequency of domestic routes to provide more convenient services.