Mandarin Airlines
Taiwan · Mandarin · Active
Airline Identity
History
Mandarin Airlines was established on 1 June 1991, initially as a joint venture between China Airlines (67%) and the Koos Group (33%), created in part to operate international routes under a different brand during a period when China Airlines' own name carried political sensitivities. In 1999 it merged with fellow regional carrier Formosa Airlines, absorbing domestic routes, while its own international services were folded back into China Airlines' network, leaving Mandarin as the group's dedicated regional and domestic operator.
Current Operations
Mandarin Airlines continues to operate as a regional subsidiary of the China Airlines Group, flying ATR 72-600 turboprops and Embraer E190 jets on domestic Taiwanese routes and short regional international services from bases including Taipei Songshan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, while China Airlines itself handles long-haul international flying. It is majority owned (around 94%) by China Airlines and maintains codeshare and interline links with China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and other partners, but is not itself a member of a global alliance (China Airlines belongs to SkyTeam).
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.