China Airlines likely to relaunch flights to London around 2015

Leading Taiwanese carrier China Airlines recently announced that it plans to relaunch flights to London after new Airbus A350-900 airliners are included in its fleet around 2015.

China Airlines currently operates twice-weekly service between Taipei Taoyuan and London Heathrow, but will suspend it from March 25, 2012, only to relaunch in 2015 with new Airbus A350-900 aircrafts. The airline said that the UK market remains crucial to its European strategy, and it will continue to serve London though after it relaunches its flights again.

The airline said that after relaunch the London market will be served through a codeshare with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which will connect its own flights from Amsterdam Schipol via Bangkok to Taipei Taoyuan.

China Airlines first started operating direct flights to London from Taipei in March 2010. Another Taiwanese carrier EVA Air also serves Taipei-London route via Bangkok.