China Airlines to end Heathrow-Taiwan flights

China Airlines has blamed high oil prices and the European debt crisis for its decision to end the direct flights from Heathrow to Taipei from March 25.

The Taiwan-based carrier currently flies on the route twice a week but it is now establishing a daily codeshare flight with KLM from London to Amsterdam where it will connect with its existing Amsterdam-Bangkok-Taipei service.

China Airlines said that fuel costs and the eurozone’s economic problems have affected the profitability of its direct service to London, which was launched in March 2010.

The airline stopped accepting bookings for its London service beyond March earlier this month, causing speculations that the route would be cancelled.

The change still needs to be approved by regulators, but China Airlines expects to begin accepting reservations for London again after February 15. Passengers who have already booked the Taipei-London direct flight for after March 25 will be contacted by the airline about alternative arrangements.

A airline source said that there is a possibility that the direct flight to London will resume when the carrier receives its fuel-efficient Airbus A350s, which are due to be delivered in 2015. The Taipei-London route is currently serviced by the Airbus A340.