Airlines
Drop in China-Taiwan Traffic Pressures China Airlines
Taiwan's flag carrier turns focus to Southeast Asia, Europe
A China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER makes an appearance at the 2015 Paris Air Show. (Photo: Boeing)
A China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER makes an appearance at the 2015 Paris Air Show. (Photo: Boeing)

A dwindling number of mainland Chinese tourists traveling to Taiwan has prompted the island nation’s flag carrier, China Airlines, to shift its attention to new markets. Speaking at the October 24-25 Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Taipei, CAL president Hsieh Su-Chien outlined his strategy to react to cross-straits tensions and a resulting 47 percent drop in passenger numbers between mainland China and Taiwan. During the same period, group traffic declined by 58 percent.