Trip Report: China Airlines A321 & A350 Business Class, September 2025

China Airlines, often underrated, impresses with its cohesive design and passenger experience. Notable for innovative interiors and cozy lounges, it offers a dual fleet of A321neo and A350 aircraft. Excellent service, thoughtful amenities, and gourmet meals shine, despite minor areas for improvement. The airline evolves steadily, reflecting Taiwanese charm throughout.

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Trip Report: China Airlines A350-900 Business Class, March 2024

The review highlights an impressive experience with China Airlines, showcasing its distinct design, spacious cabins, and excellent service. Recognized as Design Airline of Asia 2023, it offers a robust route network and innovative features like a sky lounge. The overall journey, from check-in to food, confirms the airline’s high standards.

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China Airlines introduces new Japanese menu and dedicated tableware for Japan routes

China Airlines has now released a new menu and tableware to compliment its Japan routes. The airline will partner with Toutouan, a famous restaurant in Tokyo, to launch their “natural style” Japanese cuisine for Premium Business/Business Class on all Japanese routes. Brand new Japanese tableware will also complement the cuisine. “By bringing Japan’s signature banquet…

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Pikachu we see you. (Again.) Now flying on a China Airlines A321neo

Pokemon characters certainly don’t seem scared of flying, after all, there have been multiple themed aircraft from the franchise over the years. The latest – and first to grace Taiwan – can be found on China Airlines aptly named “Pikachu Jet CI”. The design is fairly complex, and took no less than 21 days to…

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The need for space. Will airlines invest in social spaces once again?

Even non-aviation enthusiasts may have noticed that the skies look a little different today. As we head into another year since the pandemic first decimated commercial aviation, the large behemoth A380s and Queens of the skies – the Boeing 747 – are a rare sight at airports nowadays. Replaced by more economic and smaller long-haul…

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China Airlines Reopens Lounge In Taipei’s Taoyuan Terminal 2

China Airlines has a fairly phenomenal lounge in Terminal 1 of Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. Designed by Ray Chen back in 2014, the larger of the three lounges is a beautiful designer heaven, featuring both a business class and VIP section that was inspired by the Song Dynasty with a conceptual use of a “southern china…

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China Airlines Introduces Refreshing New Summer Menu And Dining Innovations

China Airlines has won countless awards from TheDesignAir over the years due to its constant drive to quantum leap their cabin product. Now at a truly international level, the airline is investing in to new dining concepts that both innovate and get the taste buds going. This summer, China Airlines is introducing a number of…

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Trip Report: China Airlines A350-900 Business Class March 2017

Flight: CI063 Aircraft Type: A350-900 Class: Business Class Route: TPE-VIE Date: March 2017 http://www.china-airlines.com China Airlines last year won two awards from us for their formidable turn-around of their inflight and ground product, especially in business class. Their A350-900 is the latest aircraft to join the fleet and features their brand new Business Class product, based on Ray Chen’s design found…

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China Airlines Reveal Video Walk-Through Of New A350

China Airlines has just revealed a very high quality video walk-through of their new A350, showing off their new A350 Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy classes. It’s the first time the airline has given the full picture behind the new cabin. The cabins offer points of difference from the new 777 fleet that have…

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China Airlines To Upgrade European Network

China Airlines, one of our new favourite carriers, has just announced it will be upgrading it’s European routes of Amsterdam, Rome and Vienna with the new A350 aircraft which it is set to receive within a couple of months. Not only China Airlines roll out the new metal on the routes, it has made all…

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The Best Of The Best In 2015 – TheDesignAir’s Round-up Of The Year

2015 has been an impressive year with many carriers taking advantage of the lowered oil prices to invest heavily into their passenger experience both on the ground and in the air. We take a look at the best carriers around the world that have caught our attention this year. We offer a retrospective of the…

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Trip Report: China Airlines 777-300ER Premium Business Class September 2015

Flight: CI061 (Westbound) and CI062 (Eastbound) Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Premium Business Class Route: FRA-TPE-FRA Date: November 2015 http://www.china-airlines.com China Airlines has really managed to wow the world with their ‘Next Generation’ program. The airline has won  not just one but three awards at the Global Traveler Awards, including best business class seat design. It’s also…

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SkyTeam Lounge At Hong Kong International Opens In Partnership With China Airlines And China Eastern

This week saw the opening of SkyTeam’s latest beautiful lounge in Hong Kong International Airport. This is the latest major SkyTeam lounge opening since Sydney earlier this year. The ‘Exclusive’ Lounge is the result of a partnership between China Airlines and China Eastern airlines. It is SkyTeam’s first VIP Lounge in the Greater China region and the…

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Trip Report: China Airlines 777-300ER Premium Business Class September 2015

Flight: CI3 (Westbound) and CI4 (Eastbound) Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Premium Business Class Route: SFO-TPE-SFO Date: September 2015 http://www.china-airlines.com Written for TheDesignAir by Adam Ralston | San Francisco is inarguably one of the busiest US gateways to and from Asia. All US legacy carriers and a multitude of foreign carriers provide direct service to several points of entry throughout…

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TheDesignAir’s Top 10 Business Classes 2015

It has been a busy year for Business Class, with a staggering array of new products being launched as carriers fight for their most lucrative passenger base. Our list contains some surprises, with familiar names falling off and lesser-known carriers appearing. Generally speaking, the products scored lower this year, possibly because consumers’ expectations are rising. The judges looked, as always, at hard and soft product first— but the very highest…

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China Airlines Introduces Futuristic New Uniforms

No, Starfleet Academy hasn’t just done a flash mob. China Airlines has just introduced a brand new uniform, which replaces its softer pastel-coloured uniforms that have been synonymous with the Taiwanese carrier for many years now. The new look, designed by Oscar-nominee costume designer William Chang, features bold colour blocks in sharp contrast–such as red and violet…

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TheDesignAir’s Top 10 Economy Classes 2015

We are pleased to announce our Top 10 economy classes for 2015. The last 18 months have changed the landscape for economy class travel, with passengers around the world benefiting from new aircraft, new products and increased inflight entertainment options. While there are some new entrants into our list this year, the competition was tougher than ever, due to an increasingly…

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TheDesignAir’s Top 10 Airport Lounges 2015

This month we delve into that quiet and revered airport sanctuary! TheDesignAir once again, with strategic print partner Airways magazine bring you the very best Top 10 Airport Lounges in the world 2015. As well as appearing online, they will appear in print in every monthly glossy issue of Airways magazine, available around the world. We are impressed with the…

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TRIP REPORT: China Airlines 777-300ER Economy Class November 2014

Flight: CI791 Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Economy Class (Family Couch Seats) Route: TPE-HAN Date: November 2014 http://www.china-airlines.com Best for: Affordable customisable luxury at an economy class price tag. Most likely to sit next to: Savvy cool Trans-pacific travellers Business or pleasure: This airline is built for business. Great schedules, frequent services, good connections and wifi onboard, means for a logical choice for those…

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China Airlines New Lounge Strengthens New ‘Designer’ Airline Status

So you may have guessed we’ve been travelling recently with China Airlines, and for good reason. The Airline’s NextGen program to reinject life into the quieter of the Asian airlines has been nothing short of impressive. The latest element to join this facelift, is the new lounge in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 1, situated where…

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TRIP REPORT: China Airlines 777-300ER Premium Economy Class November 2014

Flight: CI791 Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Premium Economy Class Route: TPE-HAN Date: November 2014 http://www.china-airlines.com Best for: Those looking for extra perks and comfort for those not wanting the heavy price tag. Most likely to sit next to: Savvy cool Trans-pacific travellers Business or pleasure: This airline is built for business. Great schedules, frequent services, good connections and wifi onboard, means for a logical…

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TRIP REPORT: China Airlines 777-300ER Business Class November 2014

Flight: CI791 Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Premium Business Class Route: TPE-HAN Date: November 2014 http://www.china-airlines.com Best for: One stop travellers connecting from Asia to the US in need of connectivity and comfort. Most likely to sit next to: Quiet business professionals. Business or pleasure: This airline is built for business. Great schedules, frequent services, good connections and wifi onboard, means for a logical…

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TRIP REPORT: China Airlines Business Class May 2014

Flight: CI062 Aircraft Type: B747-400 Class: Business Class Route: FRA-TPE Date: May 2014 http://www.china-airlines.com Best for: Affordable business class travellers wanting excellent service and good connections across Asia. Most likely to sit next to: Local Taiwanese travellers, or connecting European flyers utilising the Skyteam partnership. Business or pleasure: Pleasure. Without wi-fi onboard, and a service concept that makes you feel like you are…

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It’s A Taiwanese Revolution, Bring On China Airlines!

China Airlines, once the quieter of the Asian airline fraternity, has decided 2014 is the year it comes out and shows the world what it is made of. The airline, whose mainline long haul fleet currently features older 747’s and A340’s and newer A330s, has placed orders for brand new modern 777s and A350s, which…

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TheDesignAir’s Top 10 Destinations Of 2014

Welcome to our Top 10 destinations of 2014, the list of the best places to go for the year ahead. Here at TheDesignAir we’ve wrapped up the best 10 destinations, whether it be for the best in air travel, the best new routes or the hottest hotels to stay in. So without further ado, here’s the…

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