PMMMDL

From ATWonline:

Monday January 14, 2008
China Airlines will be announced as the next full member of the SkyTeam alliance this year, a source close to the carrier told ATWOnline. Talks between CI and SkyTeam members started last autumn.


by Kurt Hofmann

Jaimito Cartero

Hopefully at full EQM for all their tickets. I flew them a few months ago, and thought the service was okay, but they had one of the worst cattle-like boarding lines I've ever seen.

kiwiandrew

I have to admit to being very surprised at this , I would have expected all the alliances to steer clear of Taiwanese carriers for fear of upsetting the PRC - it will be interesting to see what the PRC Government would think about CZ having any form of co-operation with CI , it also seems to me that even though they cover very different markets TPE and CAN are rather close together as hubs go ( yes , I realise that they are not as close as DL's JFK hub and CO's EWR hub or NW's DTW hub , CO's CLE hub and DL's CVG hub ) considering how poor Skyteams coverage of Asia is at the moment I would have thought that MH would have brought a lot more value to the alliance than the carrier of a country which brings with it major political baggage

sh1982

I think this a great thing China airlines is very nice airline with nice route network for Asia, if MH also joins in 2009 then the coverage of Asia for skyteam is really good with CI,CZ,KE,MH and NW at NRT is will rival *alliance network.I dont think the hubs thing is a problem look at *allaince they have have hubs at BKK and SIN which are also very close.I dont think the Political issue is such a big factor, every year with chinese year there a numerous charters between taiwan and the mainland s i dont think the PRC would make a big deal out of it.

Anglo Large Clawed Otter

If true, I'd bet this bodes poorly for CO's partnership with EVA. A shame, as their Elite class (Y+) is often very reasonably priced.

N830MH

Do you know which specific dates for CI join entry ST? I remember CI does not join the alliance while ago either 2005 or 2006. It doesn't seem more reasonable CI will eventually join the ST Alliance. I'm ensure CI will begin negotiations with ST board members.

UA Fan

For those who want the link:

http://www.atwonline.com/news/other....37;2F14%2F2008

Darren

It may be easier in the next couple of years than in years past given the KMT's wins yesterday. There is a lot of talk right now of improving relations and doing more cross-strait business.

kkua

Why would anybody invite CI to join any alliance boggles me. They've got a very shady safety record. Other than their convenient flight schedules, I am not going to sacrifice safety over ultra early bird/red eye flights across the Pacific.

It would make sense to invite MH or QR.

RobertS975

CI certainly had some cockpit management accidents in the 90s and earlier, but the only two incidents this century were an aging 747-200 that was on the verge of being sold that suffered a structural failure and the 737-800 that caught fire after landing in Okinawa this past summer. That incident (no fatalities) was due to faulty flap actuator bolts and led to a worldwide airworthiness directive to all B737 operators.

Neither of this incidents were the fault of CI or its crew/maintanence. The current fleet of CI aircraft averages under 6 years old, but the 737 fire shows that even a new plane can have issues.

UA Fan

QR if it decides to join an alliance might join *.

dvs7310

This is certainly welcomed by me. With my recent frequent trips to the Philippines that won't be ending anytime soon, CI can cut a huge amount of travel time for me. Their schedule via TPE is great for us going to southern points in Asia and should be welcomed by you who need to use Skyteam to get to OZ too.

Its been a few years since I've flown on CI since I couldn't earn elite miles. I don't remember the planes being very modern, but the seat pitch in Y seemed decent. Their planes are no worse than MH (at least in Y) and the prices are frequently lower than alliance carriers. Safety really hasn't been an issue for many years... I was nervous about flying them before, but not now. Hey, maybe if we're lucky they'll allow F awards for DL, NW, or CO miles.

I really want to see MH in Skyteam just for awards wholly within SEA, but at the moment this is actually much better news for me.

jazzhou

CI already has commercial co-operation with CZ, CA and MU for many years. The PRC government isn't against such commercial ties between the two lands. I agree that it would bring more value to ST when and if MH joins the alliance.

lky001

I will be glad to hear that CI is joining ST.

I am also hoping to see MH in ST too.

I tried to wrote to ST to encourage them to take in MH, but to no avail.

DesertMoonDavid

OK, looks like I have to start reading up on my airline codes. I thought CZ was Czech, so what does it have to do with Asia?