Taiwanese flag-carrier China Airlines will add a Brisbane-Auckland flight to its schedule as of January 1, 2011. The thrice-weekly service is an extension of CAL's current Taipei-Brisbane flights, using the same aircraft: an Airbus 330-300 aircraft equipped with 30 business class seats 277 in economy.
The existing CA53 Taipei-Brisbane service will continue on to Auckland with a 12:15pm departure from Brisbane for a 6:25pm landing in Auckland.
After a two-hour turnaround the A330 begins its return journey as CA54. Wheels-up from Auckland is 8:45pm, arriving in Brisbane at 9:25pm. The second leg departs Brisbane at 11:15pm for a 6am landing in Taipei the following day.
China Airline expects the new service will be good for both business travellers and tourists heading in both directions, and takes advantage of New Zealand's recent decision to allow Taiwan nationals to enter the country without a visa.
The airline has recently signed up to the SkyTeam alliance and is expected to list as a points partner sometime next year in its continued effort to keep ahead of rival and second-largest Taiwanese carrier EVA Air.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
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