China Airlines (CAL) is now officially the 15th member of global airline alliance SkyTeam.
The airline currently flies to 80 destinations worldwide and brings three new destinations to the alliance's network: Okinawa and Miyazaki in Japan, and Surabaya in Indonesia. It also strengthens SkyTeam's cross-straight operations as the airline flies to 20 major destinations in China, complementing the network of existing members, China Southern and China Eastern, and providing SkyTeam customers with an unrivaled choice of destinations in the Greater China region.
Effective immediately CAL passengers will be able to redeem miles on services operated by the alliance's member airlines and vice versa. Member airlines include: Air France, Delta Airlines, Korean Air, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Kenya Airlines, KLM, TAROM, and Vietnam Airlines. While, Garuda Indonesia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Middle East Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas are expected to join the alliance soon.
In celebration of becoming a member airline, and to reflect its new corporate identity as a SkyTeam member, CAL unveiled a refreshed brand image that integrates its famous Plum Blossom and Chinese seal as displayed on one of the airline's Boeing 747-400, that also includes the SkyTeam livery. The airline is currently in the process of repainting its fleet in the new livery as well as updating all signage and marketing materials.
To further cement its identity as a global airline, CAL president, Sun Huang-Hsiang commented that the airline is now working on introducing fully flat beds in business in the next 1-2 years in line with many of the member airlines, currently the incline is 160 degrees. The airline is also considering removing first class (in the next two years) due to the moves by some other airlines to focus more on business class passengers.
It is also in talks with Air France to establish a non-stop Paris-Taipei route but no further details were available.
Chairman of the alliance, Leo van Wijk said that CAL's membership will add value for passengers, as Taipei will serve as an additional Asian hub, and touched on the importance of Taiwan as a key business destination in Asia.
Chang Chai-juch, CAL's chairman noted that joining the alliance is part of the airline's strategy for increased international growth and profitability. "China Airlines is the first Taiwanese carrier to join a prestigious international alliance and we anticipate a much wider reach for our business." The airline expects a 1 to 7 per cent increase in revenue and a 0.05 to 1 per cent reduction in costs as a result of membership and is "cautiously optimistic" about the coming year despite global financial issues.
According to a SkyTeam executive, CAL has now set the bar high for other airlines wanting to join the alliance, passing all the necessary steps needed for membership in record time. Airlines need to successfully comply with 18 categories and 89 requirements to become a member, including IATA certification on flight safety.
For more information, visit www.china-airlines.com or www.skyteam.com
Vicki Williams
