China Airlines brings Airbus A350s to Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland
By Chris Chamberlin, December 21 2017
SkyTeam alliance member China Airlines will fly its Airbus A350 jets on Taipei-Melbourne and Taipei-Brisbane-Auckland flights from March 2018.
Joining its double-daily Airbus A350 services to Sydney, flight CI57 from Taipei to Melbourne picks up the next-gen jet from March 25, with CI58 moving to the A350 from March 26 2018 on the return journey.
Similarly, flight CI53 from Taipei to Brisbane switches to the A350 as of March 25, continuing its journey from Brisbane to Auckland on March 26: with Auckland-Brisbane-Taipei flights naturally being served by the A350 from the same date.
China Airlines’ A350s sport 32 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration – based on the same design as Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777 The Business seats – transforming into 78-inch fully-flat beds.
A snack counter, or ‘Sky Bistro Bar’, sits just behind business class, offering self-serve drinks and snacks and an excuse to stretch your legs…
… with a 31-seat premium economy further behind, in a 2-3-2 layout:
Inflight Internet access is also available, a feature that’s factory standard on all Airbus A350s.
China Airlines confirmed the move via its Facebook page, with bookings now available through the airline's website.
Chris Chamberlin is the Associate Editor of Executive Traveller, and lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 368
C'mon, EVA! Time to bring your 77W with Royal Laurel to AUS. Preferably a kitty jet!
23 May 2017
Total posts 10
Never flown the a350 but a big step up from the angled bed a330. I'd be interested to hear what others think re China Airlines as I've found their hard product superb but soft product a long way off extending through to their Taipei lounges. I'd argue soft product far behind mainland Chinese airlines.
30 Oct 2012
Total posts 24
Couldn't agree more - I just flew CI56 SYD-TPE yesterday and the aircraft was elegant and stunning (even music in the loo!) but meals were mediocre (breakfast frittata pre 8pm arrival was an odd choice) and few recent movies. But nonetheless great value for money!
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 74
True the price tells You something might be a miss. For me I prefer the hard product to be the strong point. Also I rarely watch anything apart from when eating. It is a shame they didnt put a tail camera in. Otherwise I want to sleep as its the main selling point Otherwise why need business class. PE would do it if you don't plan to sleep.
30 Oct 2012
Total posts 24
Flew PE TPE-SYD in row 31 which is the bulkhead. Seat was comfortable with solid recline against the fixed hard shell however the bulkhead is too close to the seat which means I couldn't have both the seat fully reclined and leg rest fully extended as my feet end up hitting the wall (I'm 175 / 5' 9). The headrest moves with the seat when reclined so you won't hit the same problems as the previous Cathay Y seats (now largely consigned to a few old regional 333s)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 306
Any idea whether these flights will be Codeshare with Qantas?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 368
I would suppose so. The code share agreement has nothing to do with aircraft type. The flight number is the same, the route is the same. Whatever is codeshares now will continue to be codeshared until the contract ends.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 856
Mighty fine looking premium economy class, that is how you do it Qantas!!
21 Jul 2011
Total posts 72
I’ve flown their PE and let me assure you it’s waaaaaay behind QF
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 74
Could You maybe thinking about the wrong airline? Air China? happens often.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 108
Air China's service and food may be behind QF, but the seat I assure you has the space and comfort that QF is not able to provide, not to mention the cost compare to QF's pricing. Catering on airlines is approx 4% of the airfare, service is a hit on any airline, even with the majors, but its the seat and space which is the seller, especially when looking at distances flown from AU to Europe. This is where Air China's PE leaves QF's PE way behnd in the product line up.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 108
Of course I meant China Airlines and "service is a hit or miss" - forgive the typo o's.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Dec 2011
Total posts 94
Sorry disagree, flew J, and had a look and seat in Y+. Loved the hard shell no more front seat in your lap. Also I believe ( wouldn't fly Qantas if you paid me) Qantas have/are removing toilet from Y+.
30 May 2016
Total posts 4
I flew this one in Business from Rome, excellent! Glad to see the back of the A330, looking forward to using it to Auckland from Brisbane.
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 74
We took the A350 premium business class to and from Amsterdam earlier with CI. It was much nicer than the A330 long hual configured seats. I am more interested In the premium economy for my flights to and from Taipei to Brisbane. You can bet that the PE section will usually be full for most flights as it is good value and really 31 seats is not much.
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