China Airlines officially launched the Taipei-Phoenix direct route on December 3 (Wednesday), with Chairman Gao Xinghuang personally taking the inaugural flight of CI036, the first direct flight from Asia to Phoenix. Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai and the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Glyn Tiffan also attended the boarding gate ceremony to celebrate the inaugural flight.
Phoenix is China Airlines’ seventh destination in North America and the first in the Southwest region of the United States. The non-stop flight takes approximately 12 hours, saving about 6 hours compared to typical connecting flights, providing passengers with a new option for traveling to and from the United States and making travel arrangements more flexible.
The inaugural flight was operated using the new generation A350-900 aircraft, and the flight scheduled for December 3 was fully booked. Gao Xinghuang stated that Phoenix is an important gateway in the Southwest United States and a hub for many connecting flights. He hopes the new route will provide greater convenience for both business and leisure travelers to travel extensively throughout the United States, becoming the preferred option for passengers.
The inaugural ceremony also invited Lin Yumin, a Taiwanese baseball player supported by China Airlines, who currently plays in the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lin Yumin randomly selected five lucky passengers to receive autographed baseballs on the spot, adding a highlight to Taiwan-US travel exchanges.
China Airlines operates the Taipei-Phoenix route on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, offering non-stop flight services. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the largest international airport in Arizona, and passengers can connect to cities such as Denver, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Kansas City, and Chicago through codeshare partnerships with Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, WestJet, and Sun Country Airlines.
On the inaugural flight, China Airlines served “Cloud Star Cuisine,” offering specially crafted dishes from the Michelin three-star restaurant “Silks Palace” in Taipei to all premium economy passengers, along with BLAH BLAH Bar cocktails. The menu included delicacies such as slow-cooked premium abalone and chicken broth congee, steamed chicken rice with Chinese sausage and mushrooms, and special land and sea braised rice, as well as cocktails named “Pollen Holiday” and “Purple Cloud Voyage.” China Airlines also prepared limited edition desserts to enhance the ceremony. The renowned American brand Peet’s Coffee was also officially available on board, to be offered to passengers in all luxury business and premium economy cabins starting next year.
To commemorate the inaugural flight, China Airlines presented exquisite gift packages including JetFi Mobile eSim 1GB, Hydro Flask insulated cup, AYU Travel Set, Care Bears™ × Phoenix playing cards and postcards, windsock hanging rings, and luggage stickers for passengers to cherish precious memories of their journey.
China Airlines stated that as an airline originating from Taiwan and connecting the world, they value the details and warmth of each journey. For this inaugural flight, they specially prepared Knockaround sunglasses, a well-known American brand, for guests. The brand is loved by Hollywood and American fashion circles for its lightweight design and vibrant styles, resonating with the sunny and energetic image of “Sun City” Phoenix.
China Airlines expressed that Knockaround sunglasses combine practicality and style, symbolizing their hospitality towards passengers from Taiwan, and hoping that every passenger can embark on each flight with a pleasant and carefree attitude towards new journeys.