Ontario, California, March 25 (CNA) The inaugural direct flight between Taipei and the Californian city of Ontario arrived at the Ontario International Airport Sunday, to a cordial welcome from the airport management.
The China Airlines (CAL) Boeing 777-300ER landed at 1:30 p.m. It was then sprayed with water by two fire engines in a welcome ceremony.
At the ceremony, Ontario International Airport Authority President Alan Wapner thanked CAL, Taiwan's leading carrier, for selecting Ontario despite the challenges of opening a new market.
Some say one should know the water temperature before jumping in, but CAL jumped in straight away to find the temperature, Wapner said, lauding the company's boldness.
Before the flight took off from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on its way to Ontario Sunday (Taipei time), CAL Chairman Ho Nuan-hsuan touted the new flight service as a success.
Although there is only one direct flight between Taipei and Ontario each day, the company has received a high booking rate, averaging 70 percent for this month and next, Ho explained.
CAL hopes to take advantage of the new destination, which offers easier access to the popular tourist destination of San Diego, as well as Whittier, Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights -- where there are significant Chinese-speaking communities.
The market is also seen as promising because the Ontario metropolitan area, along with Riverside and San Bernadino, are home to large populations and extensive freight business operators.
Ontario is the sixth U.S. destination serviced by CAL, following San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii and Guam.
On its return flight, the aircraft carried passengers including U.S. Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and his wife Marie Royce, an assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.
Royce played a key role in making the Taipei-Ontario direct flight service possible. After announcing his retirement in January, this could possibly be Royce's last visit to Taiwan as a U.S. congressman.
