Absurd But Predictable: China Forces China Airlines To Change Livery

Taiwan-based China Airlines is trying to downplay its connection to mainland China.

China Airlines’ (controversial?) new livery

Taiwan's Parliament has voted in favor of a new name for China Airlines. China Airlines is based in Taiwan. There has been confusion and controversy surrounding the name. People who don't know the differences between Taiwan and mainland China have had confusion.

Many assume that China Airlines is based in mainland China, when in fact the airline is based in Taiwan, which has a very different identity. In light of the Pandemic, this has caused frustration.

China Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing plane in 2020. The airline introduced a new livery as part of the process. China Airlines used to have a livery on cargo aircraft.

The modified livery is below.

You will notice two major differences.

• “China Airlines” is written in much smaller font toward the back of the plane, rather than prominently toward the front of the plane
• The “C” in “Cargo” is a map of Taiwan, subtle as it may be (I could see some people thinking to themselves that the plane simply has chipped paint)

China Airlines in trouble over new livery

China Airlines cargo jets with a map of Taiwan are being banned from flying to mainland China, according to reports. Major issues are being created for a Taiwan-based cargo airline.

China Airlines and Taiwan's government are trying to figure out how to deal with this. One proposal was to have a subfleet without a map of Taiwan, but it was too complicated to implement. The airline decided to change its livery again.

There is no map of Taiwan anymore as a result of the bare Boeing 777F cargo aircraft that China Airlines took delivery of. There is a flower on the tail, written in small letters toward the back of the aircraft.

Bottom line

China Airlines wanted to distance itself from mainland China and instead showcase its pride in Taiwan in a new livery. The government of the People's Republic of China has banned these aircraft from flying to the mainland.

The airline had no choice but to remove the map of Taiwan from the planes. I think this shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

What do you think about China forcing China Airlines to change its livery?

There is a tip of the hat.