Mandarin Airlines was founded in1991It is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, and isa regional airline within the China Airlines GroupIts main operating bases are Taipei Songshan (TSA), Taoyuan (TPE) and Taichung (RMQ). Its role is unusual:it flies cross-strait routes to Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Yancheng and Hangzhou, and also domestic island and offshore routes to Kinmen, Penghu, Matsu, Taitung and HualienFor shippers, Mandarin Airlines solvesthe fast channel across the strait and the last leg to the main island and offshore islandsThere are no freighters, but the bellies of the ATR72-600 and E190 are the air artery for small, time-critical cross-strait shipments and for everyday supplies to the offshore islands.
IATA code AE · ICAO code MDA · air waybill prefix 803 · no freighters (belly cargo on passenger aircraft)
Schedules change with the season; bookings are confirmed against the day of departure.
Cross-strait points operating or scheduled:Mandarin Airlines mainland points includeFuzhou (Changle Airport, FOC), Xiamen (XMN), Ningbo (NGB), Zhengzhou (CGO), Yancheng (YNZ) and Hangzhou (HGH)as well as Wuhan (WUH) and Changsha (CSX), which have been served historically or on a scheduled basis (Mandarin Airlines runs reservation lines in Changsha, Wuhan and Xiamen; see the contact details below). Representative flights includeAE5107 (Taipei Songshan to Fuzhou Changle) and AE5109 (Taipei Taoyuan to Fuzhou Changle)operated with Boeing 737 series aircraft from the China Airlines Group fleet.
Schedule pattern:Cross-strait routes are mostly daily or a few times weekly, mainly with E190 and China Airlines Group 737 aircraft.Days of the week and flight numbers follow the airline's schedule on the day of bookingSome points, such as Yancheng or the Hangzhou to Kaohsiung route, run specific schedules that should not be inferred from old timetables.
What this means for shippers:Mandarin Airlines cross-strait flights useNarrowbody belly capacityto carry cargo. Payload per flight is small, but the advantage ishigh frequency and reliable transitwhich suits small, time-critical cross-strait shipments such as express parcels, samples, e-commerce replenishment and urgent parts.
| Mainland city | Route (representative) | Service pattern | Aircraft type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuzhou (FOC) | Songshan to Fuzhou, Taoyuan to Fuzhou (AE5107/AE5109) | Daily or several per week | Boeing 737 (group passenger aircraft) | High-frequency cross-strait point; moves to the new Terminal 2 at Fuzhou from September 2026 |
| Xiamen (XMN) | Taipei to Xiamen (AE991/992), Kaohsiung to Xiamen (AE967/968) | Several flights a week | E190 / 737 | Main point on the Fujian coast, with a mainland reservation hotline |
| Ningbo / Zhengzhou | Taipei to Ningbo (AE989/990), Taipei to Zhengzhou (AE993/994) | Several flights a week | E190 / 737 | Points in East China and the central plains |
| Yancheng / Hangzhou | Taipei to Yancheng (AE951/952), Kaohsiung to Hangzhou (AE995/996) | Selected schedules | E190 / 737 | Points in northern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang, with lighter frequencies |
| Wuhan / Changsha | Wuhan to Taipei, Changsha to Taipei (historic and scheduled operation) | Seasonal | E190 / 737 | Central China points with a mainland reservation hotline |
Mandarin Airlines was founded on 1 June 1991and is one of the representative regional carriers in Taiwan and amember of the China Airlines group. It complements China Airlines: China Airlines flies the intercontinental mainline, Mandarin Airlines covers cross-strait and domestic and offshore island routes, and the two share codes, share resources and coordinate schedules. Many China Airlines code-share flights (CI numbers) are in fact operated by Mandarin Airlines, and the reverse also happens, sofor shippers, Mandarin Airlines and China Airlines are one system.
Its two roles:first,a cross-strait direct carrierflying to mainland points such as Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Yancheng and Hangzhou, and one of the main operators on cross-strait routes; second,the backbone of Taiwan domestic and offshore island routes, centred on the offshore islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu and on the main island points of Taitung and Hualien, with 8 domestic points and 11 routes, and a fleet growing to 13 ATR72-600s in 2026 (the ATR 2.0 fleet).
The cargo role, stated plainly:Mandarin AirlinesNo freighterscargo rides in the belly holds of ATR72-600 and E190 passenger aircraft. Domestic and offshore island routes carry mainlybasic supplies, express parcels and small cold chain lots, which suits the small, fast ATR; cross-strait routes carry mainlyexpress parcels, samples, e-commerce replenishment and urgent parts. The airline does not compete with freighter mainlines for large cargo, butit runs the small-and-fast segment harder than anyone.
Group coordination is its main strength:as a China Airlines group member, Mandarin Airlines cross-strait flights connect directly into the China Airlines intercontinental network, so cargo arriving at Taipei Songshan or Taoyuan can transfer to China Airlines flights to North America, Europe and Southeast Asia.For shippers this means one waybill can cover both legs, with Mandarin Airlines on the first and China Airlines on the second.
Mandarin Airlines isthe cross-strait and offshore island wing of the China Airlines group: no freighters, with small-and-fast cargo carried in the belly holds of ATR72-600 and E190 aircraft; cross-strait flights connect to the China Airlines intercontinental network on a single waybill.
① No freighterscargo travels in passenger belly holds, so single-flight capacity is limited.
② Cross-strait pointsFuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Yancheng and Hangzhou.
③ AWB prefix 803, with shipment status available on the official website.
| Item | Content | Item | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | Mandarin Airlines Co., Ltd. | English name | Mandarin Airlines |
| Region | Taiwan, China (North Asia) | Head office location | Taipei (Songshan, Taoyuan and Taichung are operating bases) |
| Parent company | China Airlines group | IATA two-letter code | AE |
| ICAO three-letter code | MDA | Founded | 1 June 1991 |
| Air waybill (AWB) prefix | 803 | Operating profile | Regional carrier: cross-strait plus domestic and offshore island routes |
| Fleet size | 13 ATR72-600 plus 6 E190 (about 19 aircraft) | Official website | www.mandarin-airlines.com |
| Cargo format | No freighters; belly cargo on passenger aircraft (domestic and cross-strait) | Mainland reservation hotlines | Xiamen +86-592-238-8388 · Changsha +86-731-82240871 · Wuhan +86-27-85558172 |
ATR72-600 (13 aircraft): the island workhorse.Mandarin Airlines has taken new ATR72-600s since 2017, with the 13th delivered in April 2026 to complete the ATR 2.0 fleet upgrade. The ATR72-600 is a 70-seat twin turboprop,economical on fuel and strong on short take-off and landing, which suits the offshore island routes to Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu. Its hold is a bulk hold, so piece dimensions and weight are limited by the door, and it suits basic supplies, express parcels and small cold chain lots.
E190 (6 aircraft): the jet mainstay on cross-strait routes.Mandarin Airlines operates 6 Embraer E190 jets (100 seats) with modular integrated avionics, flyingdomestic main island routes, cross-strait routes and regional international routes. The E190 hold is also a bulk hold, carrying less than a tonne per flight, but it has longer range and higher speed, which makes same-day cross-strait delivery its strength.
Group aircraft as backup:some cross-strait flights are operated byChina Airlines group Boeing 737 and A321neo aircraft, as on the 737 rotations to Fuzhou, offering more hold volume than the E190.Ask which type operates on the day when booking, because it directly sets how much can be loaded.
On the figure of 19 aircraft:13 ATR72-600s and 6 E190s are the publicly stated fleet; the type actually operating a given flight is decided on the day. The fleet is small, butit matches the routes closely, which is how a regional carrier survives.
① ATR on the islandsbasic supplies and express parcels for Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu, with dense daily rotations.
② E190 across the straitmedium sectors such as Fuzhou and Xiamen, with same-day or next-day delivery.
③ Type first, then cargowhether the ATR, the E190 or a group 737 operates on the day sets the capacity ceiling.
| Aircraft type | Number | Cabin layout | Belly loading | Its role at Mandarin Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR72-600 | 13 aircraft | About 70 seats | Bulk hold (loaded piece by piece) | Main type on domestic and offshore island routes: Kinmen, Penghu, Matsu, Taitung, Hualien |
| E190 | 6 aircraft | About 100 seats | Bulk hold (loaded piece by piece) | Cross-strait routes plus domestic main island and regional international routes |
| Group 737 / A321neo | (China Airlines group passenger aircraft) | 160 to 180 seats | Bulk hold or small ULDs | Operates some cross-strait flights, such as the Fuzhou route |
Public mainland reservation hotlines, as listed by Mandarin Airlines:Xiamen +86-592-238-8388, Changsha +86-731-82240871 / 72 / 73 and Wuhan +86-27-85558172. These lines run through the China Airlines group global reservation system and handle reservations and ticketing as well as flight enquiries for the relevant points.
Cargo booking: through a forwarder.Mandarin Airlines and China Airlines share one system, and cross-strait cargo, especially express parcels, samples and e-commerce replenishment, is normally booked through a freight forwarder. The forwarder works in the China Airlines group system and issues the AWB with the 803 prefix, handles customs clearance and tracks the shipment throughout. Customers do not need to find a counter themselves; they hand the cargo and the requirement to the forwarder.
Head office contact:The Mandarin Airlines head office is in Taipei, Taiwan. The official website www.mandarin-airlines.com carries flight status, cargo tracking (enter the AWB number with the 803 prefix) and contact details for each airport. Booking and handling of cross-strait cargo is still best done through a forwarder.
Head office: Taipei, Taiwan
Website: www.mandarin-airlines.com
Cargo tracking: AWB prefix 803
Xiamen: +86-592-238-8388
Changsha: +86-731-82240871 / 72 / 73
Wuhan: +86-27-85558172
Provided through the China Airlines group global reservation system
Cross-strait points: Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Yancheng, Hangzhou
Waybill prefix 803 · IATA AE · ICAO MDA
No freighters; belly cargo on passenger aircraft
Cross-strait routes are mostly daily or several times a week, soexpress parcels, samples and e-commerce replenishment can move the same week, and that reliability is the core selling point.
Mandarin Airlines flies the first leg and China Airlines the intercontinental mainline, sosmall cross-strait lots connect directly to North America, Europe and Southeast Asia, with a mature code-share structure.
For the offshore islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu,basic supplies, small cold chain lots and express parcelsmove on the Mandarin Airlines ATR fleet as the main air link.
There is no full-pallet minimum, soa few samples or a few dozen kilograms can move, which suits small and medium shippers.
E190 jet speed plus high frequency meansnext-day delivery between the main cross-strait cities, which matters for urgent parts.
Membership of the China Airlines group meansstandard operating practice, mature systems and traceable responsibility, which is reassurance for shippers.
Provide the cross-strait origin and destination cities, pieces, weight and dimensions, and commodity, and we quote against the day's schedule
Confirm whether the ATR, E190 or a group 737 operates that day and check bulk hold acceptability piece by piece
Book space on the Mandarin Airlines flight through the China Airlines group system and confirm the nearest available schedule
Issue the air waybill with the 803 prefix, the customs declaration and the accompanying documents
Hand over and clear customs at the mainland gateway, load the aircraft, then clear and deliver on arrival in Taipei or transfer to a group flight
For cargo continuing on China Airlines intercontinental routes, book the connecting sector at the same time and track on one waybill
A given day's flight may be operated by an ATR, an E190 or a group 737, andthe hold volume differs widely. Confirm the type of the day before fixing the volume.
The ATR and E190 holds are bulk holds, soa piece beyond the door limit cannot be loaded. Assess oversize and overweight pieces in advance instead of hoping they will fit.
Some points, such as Yancheng and the Kaohsiung to Hangzhou route, have lighter frequencies, andcross-strait capacity tightens in peak season. Allow one to two days of buffer when booking, and do not push express cargo onto the last flight.
Express parcels and samples are small, butthe customs declaration and accompanying documents must still be compliant, and the domestic leg has its own identity declaration requirement, so list everything once before dispatch.
Inside the China Airlines group, booking runs through system integration. A competent forwarder on this lane should do four things for the customer:
Movement between the offshore islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu and the main island of Taiwanrelies mainly on air transport. Mandarin Airlines runs 8 domestic points and 11 routes with its ATR72-600 fleet, carrying passengers and basic supplies, andisland express parcels, small cold chain lots and emergency suppliesall rely on this air link. For shippers in cross-strait trade, last-mile distribution on the island has steady capacity.
Mandarin Airlines was an early participant in cross-strait direct flights and has kept operating them, covering Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Hubei and Hunan.The small-and-fast cargo of cross-strait trade, meaning samples, express parcels, e-commerce replenishment and urgent parts, is exactly where the Mandarin Airlines belly holds work best.
As a group member, Mandarin Airlines and China Airlinesshare codes, share systems and coordinate schedules. Small cross-strait lots that reach Taipei can connect directly to the China Airlines intercontinental network for North America, Europe and Southeast Asia, andone waybill with Mandarin Airlines on the first leg and China Airlines on the secondis the main value the group gives shippers.
Mandarin Airlines offerscabin-seat baggage (CBBG), where instruments and large packaged items can travel in a booked cabin seat. This is useful forinstrument dealers, art transport and samples of special equipment, and shows the airline's flexibility on unusual items.
Does Mandarin Airlines have freighters, and what can it carry?
No freighters. Cargo rides in the bulk belly holds of ATR72-600 and E190 passenger aircraft and is under a tonne per flight; some cross-strait flights use China Airlines group 737s with larger holds. The airline is good at small-and-fast cargo; bulk cargo belongs on a freighter mainline.
Which cities in mainland China does Mandarin Airlines serve?
Cross-strait points include Fuzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Zhengzhou, Yancheng and Hangzhou, plus historic and scheduled points such as Wuhan and Changsha, which have mainland reservation hotlines. Schedules change with the season and the day of booking governs.
What is the Mandarin Airlines air waybill prefix and how is shipment status checked?
803 (IATA two-letter code AE, ICAO three-letter code MDA). Master waybills are formatted 803-xxxxxxxx. Status can be checked on the Mandarin Airlines website by waybill number, or through a forwarder.
What is the transit time from mainland China to Taipei?
On points such as Fuzhou and Xiamen the flight takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and with handover and clearance the cargo can usually be collected in Taipei or transferred to an onward flight one to two days after handover. The day's schedule governs. This is a transit time range, not a commitment.
Can samples, express parcels and small lots be carried, and is there a minimum?
Yes, and this is where Mandarin Airlines is strongest. There is no full-pallet minimum, so a few samples or a few dozen kilograms can move. Report pieces, weight and dimensions when booking and we confirm bulk hold acceptability against the type of the day.
Can cargo transit Taipei to North America on one waybill?
Yes. Mandarin Airlines is a China Airlines group member, so small cross-strait lots can connect at Taipei to China Airlines intercontinental flights, with the forwarder booking both legs as one plan and tracking one waybill. Pallet configuration and capacity on the connecting sector must be confirmed in advance.
How do I contact Mandarin Airlines to book?
Mainland reservation hotlines: Xiamen +86-592-238-8388, Changsha +86-731-82240871 / 72 / 73, Wuhan +86-27-85558172. Cargo booking in practice goes through a freight forwarder. Customers can also send us the origin and destination cities, commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions directly.
Can cargo be carried to the offshore islands of Kinmen, Penghu and Matsu?
Yes. The Mandarin Airlines ATR72-600 fleet is the backbone of the offshore island routes and carries basic supplies, express parcels and small cold chain lots. Domestic cargo is declared under local regulatory requirements, including sender identity checks, and the exact process is explained when the booking is taken.
Capacity, schedules and document requirements for cross-strait belly services, China Airlines group connections and offshore island distribution are confirmed item by item by a specialist freight forwarder.
Contact GoodHope Freight for an air cargo planDeparting China · international air freight forwarder · (an independent forwarder, not a branch or representative office of Mandarin Airlines)