Page 26 - AAA JANUARY-MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

AIRLINES

Long Live the aircraft’s service with China Airlines. More
than 350 passengers gathered to send off the
Queen of the Skies. The flight departed from
Taoyuan Airport and flew to Japan, circling
around Mt. Fuji before returning. The flight
the Queen lasted around 5 hours and 40 minutes,.

China Airlines prepared 747 surprise packs
stuffed with goodies for the passengers. These
included a limited-edition Farewell Party model
aircraft, embossed face mask, tail-fin keyring,
canvas bag, flight safety pack, and navy blue
China Airlines amenities kit. Passengers also
CHINA AIRLINES FLIGHT CI-2747 WAS THE LAST had the chance to win exclusive gifts such as
PASSENGER-CARRYING FLIGHT OF THE 747-400 a Mt. Fuji glass and 747 liveried aircraft model.
BEFORE ITS RETIREMENT Passengers were even presented with a com-
memorative flight certificate during the flight.
Jay Menon
First class services were recreated for this
micro-trip. Teriyaki eel rice and Grilled beef ten-
derloin with port wine sauce for example were
presented course by course in the traditional
manner. The classic Plum Blossom porcelain
and vintage Pol Roger champagne all served
to highlight the 5-star experience of First Class
on the 747; Business Class was served with
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 fried egg.
For dessert, there was 747 Queen of the Skies
cupcakes and aircraft-shaped cookies from a
secret menu. Passengers were able to enjoy
a variety of different Japanese cuisine aboard
the flight.

The first 747-400 in Asia was introduced by
China Airlines, the Taiwan-based carrier, will soon begin retiring the China Airlines and the fleet has served to
747-400 passenger aircraft “Queen of the Skies” from service. The link Taiwan with North America, Europe, and
limited-edition final passenger-carrying mission generated much Australia for the past 30 years. During this
fan interest and all tickets were sold within five minutes of going time, they carried nearly 100 million passen-
on sale. A “747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party” one-day micro- gers and were the mainstay of China Airlines’
trip was carried out in on March 20, by China Airlines. Aircraft no. high-capacity and long-range routes. In 1993,
B-18215, the last 747 delivered to China Airlines by Boeing in April China Airlines used the 747-400 to launch the
2005, was assigned to fly flight CI-2747 in homage to Queen of Taipei (TPE Airport) to New York (JFK Airport)
the Skies. service, the longest direct route in the world
at the time; the all-new Plum Blossom corpo-
For the passengers of “747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party” rate logo that China Airlines introduced in 1995
a tour of each cabin class aboard the 747 passenger aircraft as also made its first appearance on the 747-400.
well as a super-sized capsule vending machine for 747 peripherals It is the only aircraft to have featured three
was arranged. A one-of-a-kind 747 photo booth was also set up generations of the corporate logo. In 2003,
on the day to fulfill the wishes of travelers kept from international it carried out a Lunar New Year charter flight
travel for so long. that passed through Hong Kong airspace to
land directly in China for the first time. This was
China Airlines flight CI-2747 was the last passenger-carrying the first Taiwanese cross-strait flight to land at
flight of the 747-400 before its retirement and commemorated Shanghai-Pudong airport in 54 years.

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