The weather was warm and sunny, reminiscent of early summer, and the humidity was slightly tangible on the skin. It was the perfect weather to experience the Taiwanese atmosphere. April 3rd was one of the long spring holidays in Taiwan.
The charter flight, which was postponed, was a huge success thanks to your support.
After 10 a.m., customers begin to stream at the domestic flights counter at Narita Airport's Terminal 2, as if the bustle of Taiwan has been brought to Japan.
We were greeted by Taiwan-themed decorations and events. First, Taiwan Tourism Bureau staff dressed in traditional Taiwanese costumes stamped the passports made for this day while keeping social distancing in mind.
"Thanks to everyone's support, the event was a great success, and I'm truly grateful. People of all ages participated, including customers who want to travel abroad and customers who just love air travel. Following on from Singapore, where many of our customers have travel needs, this time we are heading to Taiwan. We received full cooperation from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Narita Airport."
These are the words of Yukiko Niwa from the Route Business Department, who was in charge of planning and sales. This event was scheduled to take place in January, but was postponed to this day due to the state of emergency declaration. Seeing the excited faces of the customers who had been waiting for it was particularly moving.
A variety of exhibitions and events that will immerse you in the Taiwanese atmosphere
Once you pass through security, you'll arrive at the domestic departure lobby. There are numerous objects and exhibits. Many customers enjoy taking commemorative photos in front of the "Fortune Tree" that you can find in Taiwanese temples, and the cute "Golden Pig Bonheur," which is said to bring prosperity and fortune.
In addition, in the "Let's Play Taiwan! Taiwanese Gourmet Ring Toss Challenge Corner," customers who win will receive prizes, such as dried pineapples and DIY lantern kits, for the first 100 customers.
In addition, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau Tourist Information Center has also been set up to provide tourist information on Taiwan. We have put a lot of effort into creating an opportunity for many customers to become interested in Taiwan. Ohbear, the mascot for the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, can be seen everywhere.
On this day, we spoke with Mr. and Mrs. Kobori, who came from Tochigi Prefecture.
"This is actually my third time taking part in a charter flight. Each time, the exhibits and programs are well-thought-out and I enjoy them. I'm learning Chinese, and if it weren't for the coronavirus pandemic, I would have liked to go to Taiwan. Also, my son dreams of becoming an airplane pilot, so he was really looking forward to this flight."
In front of the boarding gate, there is a photo spot modeled after Jiufen, a famous tourist spot in Taiwan. Here too, many passengers lined up to take commemorative photos. Boarding instructions will begin shortly. After a bus ride, maintenance staff line up in front of the boarding ramp to welcome passengers. Inside the plane, displays inspired by Taiwan welcome passengers.
Flight "3399" takes off, hoping for lasting friendship between Japan and Taiwan
At 12:15, the flight finally began, watched by the maintenance staff and other involved staff. Flight 3399 is named after the Chinese phrase "Chang Chang Chu Chu," which means "forever." The flight name was given in the hope that the friendship between Taiwan and Japan will continue for many years to come.
The flight program, which began with Captain Hara announcing, "I am deeply touched that so many people have come to this event," was a journey around Japan's highlights. After leaving the runway, the plane turned toward the southwest, where Taiwan is located, glancing at Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps.
The in-flight meal is high-end Chinese, with Taiwanese flavors and a yum cha twist.
Immediately after takeoff, the long-awaited in-flight meal begins. While enjoying the view outside the plane and the beautiful scenery of Taiwan shown on the in-flight monitor, we dine on a special Yumcha menu prepared just for this day.
The appetizer of the chicken with saliva is served with coriander, which is rare for an in-flight meal. The thick and juicy chicken is perfectly coated with the garlic paste. The salad is topped with dried tofu, giving it a fresh and juicy taste.
The main course is a competition of steamed dishes. The seafood shredded shumai has a strong presence of ingredients, the jade dumplings are delicate in appearance and taste and have a transparent feel, the crab shumai captures the rich flavor of crab meat, and the steamed glutinous rice meatballs have an irresistible contrast between the chewy texture and the strong ingredients. All of these are authentic dishes that can be enjoyed with the accompanying vinegar soy sauce or mala sauce.
The lotus chimaki is large and filled with plenty of ingredients, so it is very satisfying. The roast pork, chicken, and shrimp are granular, while the sweet and spicy seasoning and the aroma of the lotus leaves create a harmonious and delicious taste that overwhelms your mouth.
This is my personal opinion, but steamed dishes and in-flight meals go really well together. Although main dishes require the effort of reheating on the plane, the advantage of steamed dishes is that the taste and texture are less affected.
Also worth mentioning is the mango pudding. It is rich, sticky and full-bodied, and so delicious that you will want to have seconds. The chef showed off his skills in the Chinese restaurant in the sky, and I heard rave reviews from all over the plane. This time I had a meal in economy class, but it was comparable to that in business class, and I felt it was safe to call it high-end Chinese food.
There will be events on the plane and after disembarking. Please look forward to our next trip to Thailand.
As we enjoyed the aftertaste of the meal with tea and coffee, the red envelopes began to be distributed. This is a custom similar to New Year's gifts in Japan, and various items are placed inside. Inside are exchange tickets for mini sky lantern decorations with LEDs. There is also a test of luck event. Lucky passengers who find another card in their red envelope will receive a special prize such as a gourmet set after landing.
The fun and lively charter flight ends in a flash, and we land at Narita Airport. There, you won't have to break up in groups of three or five... This is a charter flight that gives you a taste of traveling abroad with JAL.
Just like when they departed, all the staff came out to see them off when they arrived. They placed postcards addressed to their families in a special mailbox. These were then delivered to them by airmail from Taiwan at a later date.
You'll feel like you're in Taiwan, so when you receive the postcard as a memento of your trip, the memories of that day will come back to you vividly. Along with the eco bag containing Taiwanese snacks, tourist information, and original masks, you'll have plenty to look forward to even after you return home.
"It was a lot of fun. The best memories were the in-flight meal and the view of Mt. Fuji. I'm looking forward to the next time."
Mr. and Mrs. Kobori, who met us in the arrival lobby, shared their impressions with us. The theme of the next charter flight is Thailand. We are currently preparing in-flight meals prepared by our chefs and a variety of elaborate hospitality ideas. As befitting the name "Land of Smiles," we are sure the next event will also be filled with the smiles of many customers.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
