China Airlines
Operator Identification
December 1959 to present
Taiwan
TYPE: Airline
IATA/ICAO CODES: CI / CAL
HEADQUARTERS: Taipei
FORMER NAME: Nil
SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil
Operator History
China Airlines was founded on 7 September 1959 and started operations on 16 December 1959. Its founder was a retired ROCAF officer, and the 400,000 TWD capital was entirely owned by the Taiwanese government. The company started operating charter flights, with a fleet of two Consolidated PBY Catalinas and a Douglas C-54. Throughout the 1960's, China Airlines operated several aircraft in Southeast Asia in support of the South Vietnamese government and US forces there.
From 1962, scheduled service was established, initially domestically, and later internationally using Caravelles and Boeing 727s. From 1970, Trans-Pacific routes were opened, using the Boeing 747 from 1976 onwards.
Today, China Airlines is still the national airline of Taiwan.
Commando Operations
February 1960 to September 1972*
China Airlines served as a cover to operate two ROCAF Commandos in Laos in the early 1960's through local airline Veha Akat.
China Airlines also operated at least three Commandos in Southeast Asia in the late 1960's to early 1970's, wet-leased to Air America.
Last edited: 13/04/2024