Mandarin Airlines

Mandarin Airlines, Limited is an airline based in Songshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. The Republic of China-based airline is China Airlines" regional and domestic subsidiary. It also operates charter services. Its main base is Taichung Airport. Mandarin Airlines is owned by China Airlines.

History

Mandarin Airlines was established on June 1, 1991, and was originally a joint venture of China Airlines and the Koo's Development Corporation. Mandarin's establishment had much to do with the political status of Taiwan. At the time, Mandarin Airlines parent company, China Airlines, still carried the national flag of the Republic of China on its livery as a symbol of the continued existence of the Republic of China government. Because of this, the People's Republic of China used its influence to block any country that it had formal diplomatic relationship with from allowing China Airlines to establish routes to it, such as Canada and Australia.

However, PRC objected less to ROC airlines that did not carry the national flag from flying international routes, thus Mandarin Airlines was established to take advantage of this, while preserving China Airlines" role as the flag carrier of the Republic of China. On 16 October 1991, Mandarin Airlines started operations with direct flights from Taipei to Sydney in Australia.

The China Trust Group pulled its investment in Mandarin Airlines on 31 October 1992, turning the airline into a company virtually wholly owned by China Airlines by December 1992. Also, Mandarin Airlines' role was changed to be a primary domestic and short-range intra-regional airline, after parent China Airlines was able to re-establish its emphasis on international routes. On 8 August 1999 China Airlines formally merged its subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines, with Formosa Airlines under the Mandarin name. Mandarin took over Formosa"s domestic operations and aircraft while Mandarin"s fleet and most of its international flights were transferred to China Airlines.

Main route

The airline focuses on Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainlain Chinese destinations, in addition to some neighbouring countries such as Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam.

Fleet

Its fleet consists of 8 Embraer 190AR.