China Airlines (CAL, TAIEX:2610), one of the Taiwan-based international carriers, will become a full member of SkyTeam Alliance Wednesday, which is expected to increase its international destinations nine-fold, the company announced yesterday.

The membership will elevate CAL's presence in Europe, Asia, America and Africa, as alliance members as a whole will provide over 14,520 daily flights to 926 destinations in 173 countries around the world, versus 101 destinations in 29 countries previously.

CAL will be welcomed as the 15th member of SkyTeam, the world's second largest airline alliance, at an official induction ceremony Wednesday at CAL's hangar at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan.

The company said executives of the other 14 full members, as well as four pending members, will witness the ceremony together.

Accepted as a full member, CAL has also refreshed its brand image by carrying the logo of the alliance on a 747 aircraft, which is set to be unveiled Wednesday. Flight attendants on duty will also be required to wear the alliance badge.

According to the airlines, even if the company does not have flights to some destinations, passengers can still book and reserve seats in Taiwan through the network to extend their travel experience.

CAL is now the first Taiwan airline to gain membership in an international alliance.

The current 14 members of SkyTeam are Russia's Aeroflot, Mexico's Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Italy's Alitalia, China Eastern (SSE:600115, SEHK:0670), China Southern (SSE:600029, SEHK:1055), Czech Airlines, Delta Air Line, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air (KSE:003490), Romanian Air Transport, and Vietnam Airlines.

(CNA)