Following an agreement signed by both sides of the strait to kick off direct weekend charter flights, China Airlines and its subsidiary Mandarin Airlines have prepared to launch a total of 29 direct weekend charter flights in July, starting on July 4. The first flight, CI 7957, will leave for Shanghai at 07:30 on July 4.

A total of 29 round trip flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xiamen have been arranged for the month of July, including fourteen return flights on the Taoyuan - ShanghaI - Taoyuan, seven on the Taoyuan - Beijing - Taoyuan route, five on the Taoyuan – Guangzhou - Taoyuan route, one on the Kaohsiung- Guangzhou – Kaohsiung route, one on the Taichung – Xiamen – Makung route and one on the Makung – Xiamen –Taichung route. China Airlines will use Airbus 330-300 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft on charters, all of which will provide two-class service. Mandarin Airlines will use a new Embraer 190 for the charters.

CAL has also reached a consensus on further cooperation with China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China. The further cooperation will include representing each other’s local businesses in passenger and cargo ground handling, maintenance service, in-flight meals, and other operations, based on the current cooperation on inter-line ticketing and check-in, baggage through check-in, and mileage exchange programs.

Next Monday, June 23, will be a historic date in cross-strait ties, as China Airlines and China Southern Airlines will sign a strategic memorandum in Guangzhou. Mr. Ringo Chao, Chairman and President of China Airlines, and Mr. Shao-Yong Liu, Chairman of China Southern Airlines, will host the signing ceremony.  Both carriers will conduct detailed discussions on future cooperation, based on the memorandum. This will create a win-win situation for both airlines by expanding their networks to provide passengers a more convenient cross-strait air travel service.