Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) won an award at the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1 for the 22nd time, with its themed float “Cycling Through Paradise”.
CAL first took part in the Rose Parade in 1987, over a quarter century ago. This year, it used images of Taiwan’s famous scenic spots at Sun Moon Lake to decorate the airline’s float, which was 55 feet long, 30 feet high, and 18 feet wide.
Taiwan was chosen by the publisher of the Lonely Planet guide as one of the top 10 Best in Travel countries for 2012, because of the way the island’s authorities have embraced biking with such enthusiasm, vision and funding, linking 1500 miles of bike paths. The cycling route around Sun Moon Lake was also ranked the world’s No. 5 best route for cyclists by CNN’s “Cycling routes that’ll take your breath away.”
Established in 1959, China Airlines has more than 10,000 employees worldwide, with a fleet of 72 aircraft. It is the largest airline in Taiwan with the most frequent flights. CAL is a member of the 19-airline SkyTeam alliance, which serves 552 million passengers annually, and offers 15,000 flights daily, serving 1000 route points to 187 countries.
