China Airlines Farewells 747 with “Queen of the Skies” Micro-Trip

China Airlines, the Taiwan-based carrier, will soon begin retiring the 747-400 passenger aircraft "Queen of the Skies" from service. The limited-edition final passenger-carrying mission generated much fan interest and all tickets were sold within 5 minutes of going on sale. Thus a "747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party" one-day micro-trip was launched today (3/20) by China Airlines. Aircraft no. B-18215, the last 747 delivered to China Airlines by Boeing in April 2005, was assigned to fly flight CI-2747 in homage to Queen of the Skies.

For the "747 Queen of the Skies Farewell Party", check-in began at 7:47 a.m. followed by an exclusive ground-side itinerary at Gate D6, Terminal 2 of Taoyuan International Airport. This included a tour of each cabin class aboard the 747 passenger aircraft as well as a super-sized capsule vending machine for 747 peripherals. A one-of-a-kind 747 photo booth was also set up on the day to fulfill the wishes of travelers kept from international travel for so long.

China Airlines flight CI-2747 was the last passenger-carrying flight of the 747-400 before its retirement and commemorated 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 at 11:30 a.m. and flew to Japan, circling around Mt. Fuji before returning. The flight lasted around 5 hours and 40 minutes, and arrived back at Taoyuan Airport at 17:10. 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 had the chance to win exclusive gifts such as a Mt. Fuji glass and 747 liveried aircraft model. Passengers were even presented with a commemorative flight certificate during the flight.

First class services were recreated for this micro-trip. Teriyaki eel rice and Grilled beef tenderloin 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 and the fleet has served to link Taiwan with North America, Europe, and Australia for the past 30 years. During this time, they carried nearly 100 million passengers and were the mainstay of China Airlines' high-capacity and long-range routes. In 1993, China Airlines used the 747-400 to launch the Taipei (TPE Airport) to New York (JFK Airport) service, the longest direct route in the world at the time; the all-new Plum Blossom corporate logo that China Airlines introduced in 1995 also made its first appearance on the 747-400. It is the only aircraft to have featured three generations of the corporate logo. In 2003, it carried out a Lunar New Year charter flight that passed through Hong Kong airspace to land directly in China for the first time. This was the first Taiwanese cross-strait flight to land at Shanghai-Pudong airport in 54 years. China Airlines thanks the 747-400 passenger aircraft for its contributions to Taiwan and China Airlines, and hopes that every passenger will always remember the Queen of the Skies.

華航747「后翼起飛」微旅行登場 向空中女王最終告別

中華航空747-400客機「空中女王」即將陸續退役，限量最終載客飛行任務，引起粉絲熱烈討論及搶購，開賣5分鐘內即銷售一空。華航今（20）日747空中女王 Farewell Party 「后翼起飛」一日微旅行活動登場，由波音於2005年4月最後生產交付華航的編號B-18215航機執飛CI-2747航班，向永遠的空中女王告別致意。

747空中女王Farewell Party 「后翼起飛」微旅行活動安排於上午７時47分開放旅客報到，隨後在桃園機場第二航廈D6登機門精心打造專屬地面行程活動，包含參觀747客機各艙等拍照紀念及超大型747周邊商品抽獎扭蛋機等。此外，現場還準備了獨一無二的747拍貼機，滿足旅客許久未出國的各種心願。

華航CI-2747航班為紀念747-400客機退役前的最後一趟載客飛行，吸引超過350名旅客齊聚歡送空中女王，於上午11時30分由桃園機場出發，至日本富士山上空繞行一圈再返回，航程時間約5小時40分，下午17時10分抵達桃園機場。華航為旅客準備超豐富747驚喜禮包，包含活動專屬模型機、鋼印口罩、尾翼鑰匙圈、帆布袋、飛行防護包及華航海軍藍盥洗包等，也有機會獲得富士山玻璃杯與獨家747彩繪模型機等好禮，航程中亦特別頒發別具意義的飛行證書，為旅客留下珍貴的紀錄。

此趟微旅行特別提供頭等艙旅客復刻服務，如蒲燒鰻魚飯或洛烤菲力牛排佐波特醬，皆採用Course by Course逐道上餐的傳統服務，並搭配經典「紅梅揚姿」骨瓷瓷器與頂級Pol Roger年份香檳，襯托出747頭等艙五星級的尊榮；商務艙則提供松花堂鰻魚飯便當及和風雞腿排佐焗烤起士管麵；經濟艙搭配櫻花蝦乾式炒麵及雞肉親子丼，另有特製隱藏版747空中女王杯子蛋糕與飛機造型餅乾，讓旅客能在機上品嚐到各式日式特色料理。

華航於1990年率先引進亞洲第一架747-400客機，過去30年來肩負著台灣銜接北美、歐洲及澳洲的重要橋樑，期間載運了全球近一億人次的旅客，為華航高運量及長程航線主力機種。華航更曾於1993年以747-400客機開啟台北（桃園機場）直飛紐約（甘迺迪機場）航線，締造當時全球最遠巡航紀錄；1995年華航全新企業識別「紅梅揚姿」，在747-400 客機率先亮相登場，更為唯一橫跨三代企業識別的航機；2003年首次執飛經香港上空、不落地直飛中國大陸之春節包機，為海峽兩岸54年來第一次降落於上海浦東機場的台灣航班。中華航空感謝747-400客機為台灣及華航的貢獻，也期盼空中女王的經典，永遠深植於每一位旅客心中。