TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Saudi state-run media confused Taiwan's national airline with China's state-run carrier when announcing a new route.

A press release issued by the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday (May 7) and picked up by regional media outlets such as Dubai-based Gulf News, erroneously reported that China Airlines (CAL) had launched its inaugural flight from Beijing to Riyad. Gulf News included a photo of a CAL jet and heralded the move as a “historic moment” in Saudi-China relations. 

However, it was Beijing's Air China that started the new service. In an announcement released on Monday (May 6), Air China (CCA) stated that its Beijing-Riyadh route started that day. 

The Riyadh Airports Company, which manages and operates King Khalid International Airport, said that the new route is operated by Air China three flights per week. The company said the connection is part of efforts to increase Chinese tourism in the kingdom. 

Due to similar names, Taiwan's national carrier is frequently confused with China's. This has prompted petitions in Taiwan to change the airline's name.

However, there are fears that a complete name change could result in China pressuring aviation organizations to remove the carrier's international flight routes.

In 2020, Taiwan's legislature passed a proposal to have the transportation ministry present a phased approach to changing the airline's name and livery. Newer designs show the name “China Airlines” substantially reduced in size and placed at the rear of the fuselage.