As flagged up by industry website airlineroute.net, it looks like Taiwanese carrier China Airlines is dropping its flights between London Heathrow and Taipei from the end of March.
The Skyteam carrier launched flights between the two cities in March 2010 (see online news January 11, 2010), but its website now shows no outbound availability from London for flights after March 18, with the last available inbound flight on March 22.
There has been no official confirmation from the airline regarding the dropping of its twice-weekly route, and when Business Traveller called the China Airlines UK reservations centre, they were unable to explain the lack of availability from late March.
According to airlineroute.net, the GDS timetables and inventory displays are also showing no flights on the route from March 25. If correct this means Skyteam members based in the UK will lose their sole direct link with Taipei, leaving them with the option of routing via Amsterdam for flights with either China Airlines or fellow Skyteam carrier KLM.
Rival Taiwanese carrier Eva Air currently offers a daily service between Heathrow and Taipei (stopping in Bangkok en route), while Cathay Pacific offers connections via Hong Kong.
For more information visit china-airlines.com.
Report by Mark Caswell