China Airlines to launch codeshare with Virgin Atlantic as SkyTeam marks 15th year

China Airlines revealed that it will soon start a codeshare arrangement with Britain’s Virgin Atlantic Airways, announcing the deal at an Amsterdam gathering marking SkyTeam’s 15th anniversary. President Kevin Chen explained that the partnership will initially allow each airline to place its flight numbers on the other’s services, aiming to connect Taiwan and the United Kingdom more directly and to enhance travel options across Asia and Europe.

He stressed that limited fleet capacity makes alliances essential for improving passenger convenience and loyalty. Chen also noted that CAL’s 15-year SkyTeam membership has enabled seamless transfers, mileage accrual, and lounge access, and that the airline seeks to attract more transit traffic through Taiwan’s hub. SkyTeam CEO Patrick Roux described CAL as a key Asian partner linking regional markets to global routes. CAL currently operates nearly 30 weekly nonstop flights to six European cities, the most among Taiwanese carriers.