China Airlines

China Airlines is the state-owned flag carrier of the Republic of China (Taiwan), established on December 16, 1959. It is a civilian commercial airline and one of Taiwan's three major carriers. Founded by retired ROC Air Force officer I Fuen with two PBY Amphibians, it initially operated charter flights before establishing scheduled domestic routes in the 1960s. The airline expanded internationally, initiating trans-Pacific flights to San Francisco in 1970 and European services to Amsterdam in the 1980s. China Airlines is publicly listed on stock exchanges and operates a modern fleet including Airbus and Boeing aircraft. As of 2026, it employs approximately 11,817 staff and remains a major regional airline serving Asia-Pacific routes.