China Airlines Demonstration Flight Sets New Standard for Sustainable Aviation in Asia

China Airlines, a Taiwan based carrier, took part in The Aviation Challenge (TAC), launched by the SkyTeam Alliance, for the third consecutive year, and introduced a one-time value chain collaboration on passenger-carrying flights, a first for the Taiwanese aviation industry. The outstanding performance of China Airlines was recognized by SkyTeam with the Future Proofing Strategies award, as well as being shortlisted in the Maximized Adoption of TAC Solutions, Best Team Collaboration, and Best Climate Literacy categories.

Now in its third year, the SkyTeam TAC was expanded to include non-member airlines for the first time. This year’s TAC was the biggest ever with 33 flights from 23 airlines around the world in the running. The award ceremony for the third TAC was held on January 15 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and awards were presented in the three categories of Putting It Into Practice, Working Together, and Embedding It in the Business. The sharing and exchange of knowledge between allied airlines was used to promote friendly competition on sustainability.

China Airlines demonstration flight was conducted on September 4, 2024, by the A350-900 aircraft offering next-generation fuel-efficiency. Flights CI100/CI101 between Taipei and Tokyo (Narita) were flown as low-carbon flights in collaboration with a corporate client and fuel supplier. In addition to using 20% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on the flight back to Taiwan, the flights were made net zero by making all passengers and cargo on CI100/CI101 carbon neutral. China Airlines was shortlisted for four awards including Maximized Adoption of TSFC Solutions, Best Team Collaboration, Climate Literacy, and Future Proofing Strategies. The airline was shortlisted for more awards than any other Asian airline and emerged from the pack to win the “Future Proofing Strategies”, an outstanding performance that highlighted China Airlines’ leadership in sustainability once again.

China Airlines owed its success at TAC awards this year to its implementation of Net Zero by 2050 initiatives in concert with global response on climate change. Five core strategies including improving fuel efficiency, upgrading of TCFD operations and emergency response systems, promoting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), participation in international fuel standards, and introduction of new technologies were also employed to progressive this goal. China Airlines will continue to strengthen its collaboration with international organizations by contributing the information and data it collects to UN and other international climate change research efforts. Climate adaptation of route operations will be enhanced as well.

The outstanding sustainability performance of China Airlines has won widespread international recognition. This year the carrier became the first Taiwanese airline to receive a corporate credit rating of “twA-” from Taiwan Ratings, and the first Taiwanese transportation company to pass the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi) review. At the same time, China Airlines won a gold award at the first ESG Logistics Sustainability Awards; was selected for the FTSE4Good Index Series for the ninth time; won the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Award for the 11th consecutive year including the top award for Service Industry - Best Report in the Sustainability Reporting category for the third consecutive year; and was also ranked among the top 5% of the global aviation industry during the S&P Global Sustainability evaluation. China Airlines continues to combine substantive action with its business strategy and sustainability philosophy, creating a better future for our planet.