Taiwan’s largest air carrier China Airlines Co. Ltd. has become the 15th member airline to join the international SkyTeam Airline Alliance, according to CAL Sept. 28.
“Effective immediately, China Airlines customers will be able to earn and redeem miles on all services operated by SkyTeam member airlines,” said SkyTeam in a press release celebrating the occasion.
Joining the alliance also means that CAL passengers will have access to cheaper tickets offered by the alliance members’ frequent flier programs, according to CAL.
SkyTeam operates over 14,500 daily flights to 926 destinations in 173 countries, trailing only Star Alliance in terms of number of passengers.
“As an island country, Taiwan has to connect with the world via aviation,” President Ma Ying-jeou said at the joining ceremony. “The inclusion of CAL represents Taiwan airlines’ ability to compete with other major cargo and flag carriers across the world,” he added.
CAL said it took a year to quality for SkyTeam membership, during which CAL had passed 89 requirement tests in areas ranging from in-flight and ground services to security and financial and information management. The airline also had to prove it met operation safety requirements by submitting to two field audits from the International Air Transport Association.
Touting CAL as a quality brand, Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam managing director, welcomed CAL for bringing three Asian cities—Okinawa and Miyazaki in Japan and Surabaya in Indonesia—to the alliance’s destination list.
According to SkyTeam, CAL’s extensive cross-strait operations to 20 major cities in mainland China are expected to complement the alliance’s global network, which offers “an unrivalled choice of travel options in the Greater China region.”
It added that the inclusion of CAL will particularly benefit corporate clients with business interests in Taiwan.
During the initiation ceremony, CAL unveiled a Boeing 747-400 in SkyTeam livery colors. The airline is the first member in the alliance to possess such a plane, according to SkyTeam. (HZW)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw