China Airlines

China Airlines

China Airlines (CAL) (Chinese: 中華航空公司; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Hángkōng gōngsī, commonly abbreviated as Huáháng (華航)) (TWSE: 2610) is the largest airline in Taiwan and the flag carrier of the Republic of China. Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation (Chinese: 中華航空事業發展基金會; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Hángkōngshìyè Fāzhǎn Jījīnhuì), which is in turn owned by the government of the Republic of China.

The airline, with headquarters in and flight operations from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, flies to destinations in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. China Airlines has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Northeast Asia. The airline started scheduled chartered flights between Taiwan and China on July 2008. Most flights serving this market are concentrated at Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. China Airlines has operated the Hong Kong route since 1967, which is the airline's most profitable market, generating 13.3% of its NT$121.9 billion (US$3.7 billion) revenue in 2006 with over 140 flights flown a week between Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong.

China Airlines' wholly owned subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines, manages regional flights to secondary cities with smaller capacity requirements. China Airlines' cargo division China Airlines Cargo operates CAL's dedicated freighter fleet, and manages the cargo-hold capacity in CAL's passenger aircraft.