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China Airlines A340-300

In 2001, China Airlines received the Airbus A340 on April 28. With the arrival of the A340 at the CKS International Airport, it opens up new technology for the Taiwanese airliner industrial in the new millennium.

This is the first time a Taiwanese Airliner introduces the A340 domestic. After the proposal to eliminate the old and bring in the new in 1999, and later the agreement with Airbus in August of the same year, this is the first A340-300 domestic delivered and received in Taiwan. At the receipt ceremony, GM of China Airlines commented, "With the use of renovated technology, China Airlines will provide the best service for our customers, which in return benefit not only to the company as a whole, but to the customers as well."

After resembling of this new plane in Taipei, the A340 will start service on May 4th. It's main routes include Taipei-Malaysia (CI631/632), and Taipei-Hong Kong (CI611/612, CI617/618), etc. Between May to October, China Airlines will introduce four more A340 replacing the MD-11 with routes to Europe, Australia and North America. Before the end of 2004, CI plans to bring in two to three more A340.

In comparison with other series of planes, the Airbus A340 is definitely a great improvement both in speed and consumption of fuel. The plane is divided into three classes with the distribution of seat eight/thirty/two hundred and twenty for a total of two hundred and fifty-eight seats. In recent time, other airlines, which also use the A340 includes Cathy, Philippines, etc. The A340 is no doubt one of the first choice for long-distance routes!