Hello all !

You can see the 1st pic of the 1st China Airlines 340-300 on KeroZen web site, beautiful plane !

http://www.kerozen.org

Best regards

Steph

 

Looks nice to me. How many does CA have on order and on which routes will it be used?

GOT

Hello GOT

They have 5 343 in order, deliveries :
04/01
05/01
06/01
07/01
10/01

But for the routes, I don't know.

Steph

 

WOW! That's an aircraft I've wanted o see for some time. And it was worth the wait.

Recently, CAL's new CEO has announced a "review" of recent orders (which I suspect will focus on the large 744F order rather than the Airbuses), but I was worried it might affect this.

I understand, however, that CAL's first A340 route will be nonstop to FRA. Of course, it will be seen on regional Asian routes, particularly HK.

By the way, can anyone make out the registration in the photo - looks like B16401 to me?

Incidentally, the code for CAL is CI; CA is Air China and much to the chagrin of Cathay's passengers, its 3 A340s are currently being flown by Cathay (they don't have PTVs or any of the gimmicks CX has, but they'll be replaced by ex SQ aircraft later this year).

Nice (livery/plane) match, as imagined!  

This is probably older news (i.e. there're changes...): CI's website says the 343s would be seen on TPE-HKG, KHH-HKG and other regional routes. Longhauls to Aust./NZ and Europe begins in July.

Looking great indeed!

BTW, Alpha, they have 7 A340-300s on order, not 5.

Kaitak,

The 340 full colours is B-18801 c/n 402
the other seems to be c/n 411, so B-18803

Steph

NZAA/AKL will get A340s from 2nd July.....BTW is there a list of their regos somewhere??

The 'Commercial Jet Aircraft Census by Bill Harms' is a very accurate website listing a/c regs.

http://www.bird.ch/bharms/asr_sh00.htm

402 A340-313X (4/01) CHINA AIRLINES B-18801
406 A340-313X (5/01) CHINA AIRLINES B-18802
411 A340-313X (6/01) CHINA AIRLINES B-18803
415 A340-313X (7/01) CHINA AIRLINES B-18804
433 A340-313X (10/01) CHINA AIRLINES B-18805

CI's livery looks very nice on the A340. Brilliant!

Looking at the delivery dates above the A340 in the pic is probably B-18801.  

It is B-18801 and they will not have B-18804.

B-18801
B-18802
B-18803
B-18805
B-18806

I'll be waiting for this next month !!

Definitely looks great and elegant on China Airlines livelys. Can't wait to see it by myself one day.

It looks great. I though it would be worse.

BTW, new CEO of CI is considering 777 since EVA bought 777s. They got lots of pressure.

I was wondering, you say that there will NOT be a B-18804. Is that due to the superstition of Number 4 sounding like the Chinese word for -death-?
Time to trying out my 'Basic Mandarin' here. (G)

1- Eiy
2- Errr
3- San
4- Suhh

Suhh rhymes closely with -Suhr-, which means "death" in Chinese. Also explains why you'll very rarely see a flight number with 4 in it either.

7 and 8 are very lucky numbers and you see a proliferation of flight numbers to and from Asia with these two used. NWA 007/008, UAL 807/808, CX888/889.

Funny..I've flown on all three of those flights. NWA goes from SEA to NRT and on to TPE and then returns (747-200), the UAL is from SEL to SFO ( I did it on the 747SP) and the Cathay run is from HKG to YVR-JFK (747-400)

Another interesting note, the US Air Force Air Mobility Command uses this flight number system with 8's and 7's priominent in Asia too. The fabled "807" or "808" mission is their prominent C-141B run from the US West Coast to Asia.

It's a similar concept of the Atlantic area ABA0707/0708 mission to bases in Europe that originates at McGuire AFB NJ, also known/nicknamed as the "European Eagle" or "The Eagle". It usually flies from WRI to Mildenhall, on to Frankfurt, then to Athens, Greece, Incirlik, Turkey, Torrejon, Spain ..then back to Frankfurt where it bounces around the system again within Europe for 1-2 weeks before it shows up (the hell well beaten out of it I might add ) at McGuire.
Sheesh. I'll never forget working fleet service at McGuire recovering a few of these every swing-shift. The planes -reeked- from the amount of passengers they handled. (G)

The "PBP0807" or "PBP0808" mission is similar concept, using a combi configured half-cargo/half-pax C-141B run that originates at Travis AFB, Flies up to McChord AFB, WA, then Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, then to Yokota AB, on to Osan AB, Korea or Kadena AB on Okinawa, then backtracks to Travis either via Alaska or Hawaii.

Anyhow...just thought I'd share that. Will never forget the avoidance of the infamous Number 4 in Asia. Similar to how one doesnt sign their name in red ink either. The only time red ink is used to sign one's name is on a household register after they -died-! (G)

Regards
MAC

Yep, 4 is death. Same in Cantonese.

Jim, how do u know they have lotta pressure? I think they are looking to buy more Airbuses as Taiwan government wants to but military stuffs from France, that's why EVA bought A332s. Just my opinion!  

MAC, 1-Yi,2-Er,3-San,4-Si and yeah u r rite, it sounds like death... 

Taiwan wants and needs Aegis fridgate.

Therefore, buying 777 will force US to sell taiwan the much needed Aegis for TMD.