China Airlines (CAL) has started commercial flights with its first Airbus A321neo.
Taiwan’s national carrier made the first flight with the new aircraft on 27 March 2022 from Taoyuan to Hong Kong.
To celebrate the new aircraft’s introduction into service, each passenger on the outbound flight was given an aromatherapy gift pack with hand wash, lotion. Passengers on the return flight were given a light perfume.
CAL has ordered 25 A321neos, comprising 11 directly from Airbus and 14 under lease agreements.
CAL’s A321neos will be able to fly on routes of up to seven hours from Taipei. The A321neo will be a mainstay on regional routes for China Airlines with plans to operate the A321neo to other destinations including Yangon, Palau and Manila.
The A321neos have 180 seats in a two class layout:
- 12 in Premium Business Class
- 168 in Economy Class
Business passengers and tourists will enjoy brand new cabin facilities, including fully-flat seats in Premium Business Class, the latest in-flight entertainment system, and 4K high-solution displays.
Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC)
All of the aircraft will be equipped with Inmarsat’s high-speed GX Aviation inflight Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to browse the internet, stream video and audio, shop online and catch-up with work. Access to the internet comes from SITA’s Internet ONAIR.
Airbus A321neo
The A321neo is 15 ~ 20% more fuel efficient than the previous generation of narrow-body aircraft. Its noise footprint and NOx emissions are 75% smaller and 50% lower respectively as well.
These improvements in fuel efficiency will help China Airlines’ commitment to achieving net-zero on carbon emissions by 2050.
N.B. Image credit: Airbus
