China Airlines Celebrates Inaugural Flight Between Taipei and Phoenix, Arizona
- Joe Breitfeller

- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
China Airlines has officially inaugurated their Taipei-Phoenix route, with flight CI036 touching down in Arizona on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

On Wednesday (December 3, 2025), Taiwan-based China Airlines announced the official launch of direct service between Taipei and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. China Airlines’ Chairman, Kao Shing-Hwang, personally flew on the fully-booked inaugural flight, CI036, from Asia to Phoenix. Additionally, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai and Director Raymond F. Greene from the American Institute in Taiwan attended the boarding gate event. China Airlines-sponsored Taiwanese expatriate baseball player, Lin Yu-Min, currently playing with one of the teams affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, an MLB team, also attended the inaugural flight ceremony. A lottery was held that day, giving five lucky travelers the chance to receive a baseball signed by Lin.
Guests onboard the inaugural flight received a special gift pack from China Airlines, containing travel essentials such as JetFi Mobile eSim 1GB, Hydro Flask thermos, A-Yuan travel kit, Care Bears™ x Phoenix playing cards and post cards, luggage strap ring and luggage stickers as a souvenir of this unforgettable trip. China Airlines also partnered with Sony for a giveaway, and all travelers in Premium Business Class and Premium Economy Class on the inaugural flight received a set of high-quality noise-canceling headphones.
China Airlines Celebrates the Inauguration of New Service Between Taipei and Phoenix on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - Courtesy China Airlines
The new Taipei-Phoenix route will be operated three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with a state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900. Phoenix is now China Airlines’ seventh North American gateway, as well as the first in the American Southwest. Thanks to interline partnerships, inbound customers to Phoenix can also enjoy one-stop connectivity with Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, WestJet, and Sun County Airlines to cities such as Denver, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Kansas, and Chicago.
Source: China Airlines












