China Airlines will begin retiring their Boeing 747-400 fleet, and to send the ‘Queen of the Skies’ off in style, the carrier has performed a limited edition final passenger flight. The five hour 40 minute flight took place last weekend with an aerial visit to Japan’s Mt. Fuji.
On Saturday (March 20, 2021) China Airlines announced the operation of the final passenger flight of their Boeing 747-400s, with a limited edition one day micro-trip between Taiwan and Mt. Fuji in Japan. As the carrier will be retiring their 747s soon, the tribute flight, which sold out in five minutes, gave guests one last chance to fly on one of the carrier’s venerable ‘Queen of the Skies’ aircraft. The B747-400 assigned to the special flight was Boeing B-18215, the last 747-400 delivered to China Airlines in April 2005, which was assigned Flight number CI-2747.
The ‘747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party’ began with check-in at 07:47 followed by an exclusive ground itinerary at Taoyuan International Airport’s Gate D6. Guests were treated to a tour of each cabin class aboard the aircraft and has access to a ‘super-size’ capsule vending machine filled with 747 souvenirs. Additionally, a one-of-a-king photo booth was provided, allowing guests to capture the special moment, after being restricted from international travel for the last year. Over 350 guests gathered to send off the storied airliner and the flight departed at 11:30 before flying to Japan and circling Mt. Fuji, before returning to Taiwan at 17:10.
Customers aboard the five-hour and forty-minute flight were delighted with surprise packs filled with goodies such as a limited edition farewell party model aircraft, an embossed facemask, tailfin keyring, canvas bag, flights safety pack and a China Airlines amenity kit. Guests were also given a special commemorative flight certificate and has a chance to win exclusive gifts such as a China Airlines 747 liveried model aircraft and a Mt. Fuji glass.
First Class guests enjoyed a multi-course meal including Teriyaki eel rice and grilled beef tenderloin with port wine sauce, served on the carrier’s classic “Plum Blossom’ porcelain, accompanied by vintage Pol Roger champagne. Customers traveling in Business Class were treated to Kabayaki eel rice in Shokato style and roasted chicken with baked cheese pasta. The Economy Class menu featured Sakura shrimp with fried noodles and chicken with Japanese fired egg. For dessert, all guests were spoiled with special 747-themed cupcakes and aircraft shaped cookies. Throughout the journey, passengers were also able to enjoy an assortment of Japanese cuisine.
China Airlines was the first operator of the Boeing 747-400 in Asia and over the past 30 years utilized the aircraft to link Taiwan with North America, Europe and Australia. During this period, the airline’s 747s carried nearly 100 million guests and were a mainstay of China Airlines’ long-haul fleet. In 1993, the carrier launched the longest nonstop flight in the world (at the time) with Boeing 747-400 service between Taipei (TPE) and New York (JFK). To celebrate the Lunar New Year in 2003, China Airlines conducted a charter flight that passed through Hong Kong airspace and landed directly in China for the first time. The flight was the first Taiwanese cross-strait flight to land at Shanghai’s Pudong airport in 54 years.
Source: China Airlines