China Airlines A350 non-stop to Amsterdam and Rome — Passengers save 4 hours

▲ China Airlines' first A350 is expected to be delivered in July and will join European routes. (Photo / Provided by China Airlines)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

China Airlines' first A350 is expected to be delivered this July and will be deployed on routes to Amsterdam, Rome, Vienna and other destinations starting December. Flights to Amsterdam and Rome, which previously required a layover, will now operate non-stop, saving an estimated four hours of flight time.

China Airlines stated that once operational, flights to Amsterdam will be scheduled four times per week, Rome twice per week, and Vienna three times per week. Flights to Frankfurt will also increase to seven times per week in June, bringing the total number of weekly non-stop European flights to 16.

China Airlines has purchased a total of 14 A350-900 aircraft. The planes feature a fuselage made from 70% new composite materials and are equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25% per flight. The cabin is designed with a European style using all five senses — sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. The first A350 was delivered in July 2016, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2018. China Airlines also noted that to accommodate the arrival of new aircraft such as the A350, the airline plans to recruit 100 trained pilots, 100 maintenance personnel, and 40 customer service staff this year.