In recent days, international oil prices have been continuously rising, leading to increased costs for air travel and tourism. In light of this, China Airlines held a press conference in Long Beach, Southern California on September 15th to announce a collaboration with local restaurants on Asian routes for the first time. They also reminded customers about their Labor Day limited-time ticket promotion, valid until this Friday (September 18th), with round-trip fares starting from as low as $750 on designated North America to Asia routes.
The goal of China Airlines is to attract travelers to plan their journeys to Asia in advance by offering discounted fares and featuring signature Taiwanese cuisine onboard.
As of September 15th, Brent crude oil prices surged to over $108 per barrel, while WTI crude oil also surpassed $104. Concerns about disruptions in oil supply have increased due to attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure, disruptions in East-West pipeline transportation, and the shutdown of some oil fields in Libya.
Facing pressures from fuel costs and overall operational expenses in the aviation industry, China Airlines launched a Labor Day promotional campaign with discounts available until the 18th of this month. The promotion applies to designated flights for U.S. travelers departing between October 1, 2026, and May 21, 2027, and for Canada departures, it applies until May 24, 2027.
Chang Chiu-Hua, the Marketing Manager for China Airlines in the Americas, introduced that the promotional routes cover major North American cities such as Los Angeles, Ontario in California, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Phoenix, and Vancouver, to designated Asian destinations. Fares for routes like Los Angeles and Ontario to Manila start from $787, Seattle to Taipei from $744, and Phoenix to Manila from $784. Actual ticket prices are subject to booking dates and related terms.
Another highlight of the press conference was China Airlines’ first-ever collaboration with local restaurants in the United States, teaming up with Eric Sze, the Taiwanese founder and head chef of Michelin-recommended restaurant Wenwen, to develop onboard meals.
This collaboration holds special meaning for Sze, whose mother was a former China Airlines flight attendant, and he himself is a loyal China Airlines passenger. He expressed great excitement about the opportunity to collaborate on food creations with China Airlines.
Chang Chiu-Hua stated that this partnership also aligns with the emotional connections conveyed by the brand image. Over the years, China Airlines has connected families, friends, and travelers of different generations between North America and Taiwan, whether for graduation trips, visiting relatives, or vacations in Asia. The journey begins the moment passengers board the plane.
Starting from October 1st, the “China Airlines X Wenwen” collaborated meals will be available on flights departing from Los Angeles (LAX) and Ontario (ONT) to Asia, featuring selected dishes in all cabin classes. The first 500 passengers boarding the flight that day will receive a recipe book titled “Taiwanese?”, written by Sze, introducing authentic Taiwanese cuisine from New York.
Economy class will offer the iconic Taiwanese dish “Classic Braised Pork Rice,” while premium economy will feature “Pan-Seared Pork Belly with Shrimp and Uni Butter Rice,” combining pan-seared pork belly, fresh shrimp, and sea urchin butter sticky rice. Business class passengers can enjoy the Taiwanese-inspired creative snack “Spicy Mapo Taro Cat Ears.”
During the collaboration period, passengers can also savor Taiwanese dishes like Braised Pork Belly, Beef Short Ribs Noodles, and Flower Wine Egg Tofu. Premium economy passengers can pre-order meals through the China Airlines website 24 hours before flight departure.
Chang Chiu-Hua expressed that through this onboard food collaboration, they aim to bring Taiwan’s local flavors to the skies, allowing passengers to experience Taiwanese culture and hometown emotions through familiar taste during their journey across the Pacific.
He reiterated that the Labor Day ticket promotion is subject to the rules for applicable routes and dates. For actual pricing, passengers should refer to the results from checking the China Airlines website at the time of booking.
China Airlines also continues to launch the “Amazing Thailand” promotional campaign in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Los Angeles, ongoing until September 30th.
Travelers interested in visiting Asia are encouraged to take advantage of the promotional period and plan their trips in advance. For related ticket prices, applicable dates, and campaign terms, they can visit the China Airlines North America website for more information. ◇