China Airlines is actively pursuing and competing for seasonal, themed and other types of charter flights, zones and cabins as travel remains muted due to the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Taiwan-based carrier made the announcement as the airline reported record cargo revenue in the fourth quarter of the year, while profit from passenger flights dropped.

"In the cargo business, the global supply of cargo slots was significantly reduced due to cancelled passenger flights. China Airlines adapted to the imbalance in supply and demand by using our eighteen 747F and the newly introduced 777F freighters to maximize cargo revenues," it said in a statement.

Record cargo revenue growth in one quarter

"In the fourth quarter, we took advantage of the traditional peak season and hit a new record for single-quarter cargo revenue. As a result, 2020 cargo revenue was up 87.06% compared to 2019."

Its passenger business "was heavily affected by COVID-19" as border restrictions and strict quarantine measures resulted in a drastic drop in the number of travellers and widespread flight cancellations. China Airlines said this resulted in passenger revenue declining by 76.93% in 2020 compared to 2019.

China Airlines Chairman Su-Chien Hsieh said there should be a gradual relaxation in border restrictions and quarantine measures along with the creation of new travel bubbles.

"China Airlines will work with the government schedule on the lifting of restrictions to adjust its passenger services in response to market and customer expectations. At the same time, China Airlines is actively planning and competing for seasonal, themed and other types of charter flights, zones and cabins," the carrier said. 

Cargo business expected to sustain expansion

"In the cargo business, opportunities offered by the transfer of sea freight should continue to generate steady demand in the air transport market in the first half of the year," the airline said, noting that steady growth in the stay-at-home economy, e-commerce and related communications equipment will see also China Airlines continue to optimize its freighter routes to the central US and the US east coast.

"The Business will be expanded by adding more services to increase the supply of cargo slots; the European market is showing signs of recovery so China Airlines is planning to increase services on European routes," it said.

The carrier noted that stopovers in Delhi and Mumbai will also be used to tap into India’s market potential and boost revenue; in Asia, new freighter destinations such as Ningbo and Tianjin in China are now in the planning stages to take advantage of market developments.

China Airlines is also continuing to optimize its fleet and a total of 21 freighters will be available this year, including three 777F and the existing eighteen 747F.

The carrier earlier said that in 2020, it adapted to the imbalance in supply and demand by utilising its 18 Boeing 747Fs and its new 777F to maximise cargo revenue.