The China Airlines A350 Syrmaticus Mikado livery aircraft is here! To celebrate the commissioning of its first new A350 aircraft, China Airlines will let it take to the skies with a full-aircraft livery featuring the Syrmaticus Mikado, an endemic bird species of Taiwan.
 
The first A350 aircraft arrived in Taiwan on October 1. Having completed its preparations and the Civil Aeronautics Administration's certification trials, the aircraft was officially unveiled to the public today (10/28), conducting a demonstration flight. China Airlines Chairman Nuan-hsuan Ho will personally host a launch conference tonight to introduce the brand new A350 aircraft to invited guests and employees.
 
China Airlines also announced an online vote for the font of the Syrmaticus Mikado aircraft. The Syrmaticus Mikado is a protected endemic species of Taiwan. It's noble bearing makes it an excellent representative of the island. The most popular Chinese font chosen by passengers will be applied to give the aircraft a finishing touch. Everyone is invited to take part and share in the joy of the new aircraft.
 
Chairman Nuan-hsuan Ho noted that China Airlines first announced that it will be introducing 14 A350-900 XWB passenger aircraft back in 2008. The first aircraft was delivered on September 30 and the remainder will be progressively delivered between 2016 and 2018. The introduction of the A350 means China Airlines will not only be the first airline in Taiwan to fly this new aircraft; it will also reduce the average age of the China Airlines fleet to just 3.6 years from 2017 onwards, as part of the company’s progressive fleet revitalization strategy.
 
The new A350 fleet will fly on European routes first. Next year, direct flights will commence for Taoyuan-Amsterdam, Taoyuan-Vienna, and Taoyuan-Rome routes; China Airlines will therefore have two direct flights every day to Europe and a total of 16 flights a week. This means China Airlines will offer the most direct flights to Europe of any carrier in Taiwan. Passengers between Taiwan and Europe will no longer have to make a stopover, saving four hours in flight time.
 
To celebrate the direct flights, travelers who purchase tickets from Taipei to four European destinations (Amsterdam, Vienna, Rome, Frankfurt) or connecting flights to other parts of Europe before November 30 will receive a discount of 3,500 TWD. The offer is for all classes and for all return flights departing from Taoyuan before December 31 next year. Apart from the direct flight destinations, China Airlines and its partner airlines will also provide connecting flights to four additional European destinations with 67 code-share flights a week. This will provide Taiwanese travelers with the most extensive airline network for European trips, consolidate China Airlines' leadership in the Taiwan-Europe market and attract more passengers to travel to Europe for business and tourism.
 
The new Airbus A350-900 XWB passenger aircraft has been praised for being “most high-tech, most energy-efficient, most eco-friendly, most spacious and least noisy” green passenger aircraft in the world. 70% of the aircraft is made from all new composite materials for improved flight safety; the enhanced cabin environment, with 30 air changes a minute, offers improved passenger comfort; the latest Rolls-Royce engines reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by over 25%. Each aircraft is therefore expected to save China Airlines up to NT$70 million a year. The cabin noise is just 57 dB as well, making it quite possibly the quietest passenger aircraft in the industry.
 
The China Airlines Group currently operates a fleet of 111 aircraft. A350-900 XWB aircraft No. 2 through to No. 4 are scheduled for delivery before the end of the year. The introduction of the A350 will enable China Airlines to build up its European network and expand its passenger services. It also symbolizes the revitalization of the China Airlines fleet and the continued evolution of its cabin products.  (2016/10/28)