China Airlines Partners with Virgin Atlantic to Enhance SkyTeam Network

Taipei: Taiwanese carrier China Airlines (CAL) will launch a codeshare partnership with Britain's Virgin Atlantic Airways, the company announced Wednesday at an event in Amsterdam marking the 15th anniversary of its accession to the SkyTeam airline alliance. CAL President Kevin Chen highlighted that the partnership will begin in the near future, emphasizing the importance of alliances in overcoming fleet and capacity limitations to enhance passenger convenience and loyalty. According to Focus Taiwan, in the initial phase, CAL and Virgin Atlantic will share flight codes on each other's services. The two airlines are expected to eventually leverage their complementary route networks to improve flight services between Taiwan and the United Kingdom, expanding travel options for passengers traveling between Asia and Europe. The announcement coincided with CAL's celebration of 15 years as a SkyTeam member. The airline joined the alliance in 2011 as Taiwan's first carrier to enter a global airline alliance and Sky Team's 15th member. Chen noted that the membership has enabled CAL to offer passengers seamless transfer services through codeshare and interline agreements, which include through check-in, baggage transfers, mileage accrual, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges worldwide. Chen expressed CAL's aim to further expand its global presence through SkyTeam, attracting more transit passengers via Taiwan by capitalizing on the alliance's extensive worldwide network. The alliance allows CAL to offer passengers more travel options and convenient connections, with existing collaborations with fellow SkyTeam members like Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, and Vietnam Airlines. SkyTeam comprises 18 member airlines serving 960 destinations across 165 countries with more than 13,880 daily flights. SkyTeam CEO Patrick Roux commented on CAL's role as an important partner in Asia, connecting the region with global markets through Taiwan's strategic hub location and its strengths in both passenger and cargo operations. Currently, CAL operates nearly 30 weekly nonstop flights to six European destinations, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Rome, Prague, and Vienna. This makes it Taiwan's largest carrier by both the number of direct European destinations served and flight frequency. Beyond its own network, CAL has codeshare partnerships with KLM, Air France, and Air Europa, extending its reach to major cities in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Finland. Additionally, it offers air-rail services through partnerships with Deutsche Bahn, Great Western Railway, and the National Railway Company of Belgium, according to the company.