Gather round, bear fans! China Airlines' Buddy Bears have been out and about for two years! To celebrate the second anniversary of the Kaohsiung-Kumamoto service, China Airlines and Kumamoto Prefecture is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new liveried tram Kumamoto today (6/03). The appearance of the bear superstars Kumamon, OhBear and Hero from Taiwan and Japan received an enthusiastic welcome from the gathered crowd. From now through to February 28, the Buddy Bears will unleash the power of their cuteness within the city limits of Kumamoto!

 

The China Airlines’ Buddy Bears liveried tram will convey the spirit of happiness as well as the close link between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto. Progressive hues of pink and yellow will convey the energy and excitement of Kumamoto. The front of the train features Kumamon along with Hero, the mascot of Kaohsiung, and OhBear, the mascot of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Together they represent the fun-filled friendship between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto. The cute bears join travelers when they begin their journey aboard China Airlines’ Buddy Bears. Once they arrive in downtown Kumamoto, the Buddy Bears will continue to keep them company aboard the liveried tram.

 

China Airlines also invited Joanne Missingham, the professional Japanese go player, and Cheshire Cat, the singer-song writer, to join the three bears for a trip aboard Buddy Bears and produce an MV on Kumamoto and Kaohsiung. Promotional discounts will now be introduced by China Airlines on the Kaohsiung-Kumamoto route at different times to celebrate its birthday so that travelers can get the best deal no matter when they go during the year. Bonus tickets will also be given away through a social network event. For the first event, simply log into the Dynasty Flyer members area and guess the lyrics of the theme song for the chance to win a Kaohsiung-Kumamoto return ticket.

 

Kumamoto is the third largest city in Kyushu and an important agricultural area in Japan. Kumamon has drawn hordes to tourists to Kumamoto in its capacity as the sales manager and happy manager of the prefecture. Tourism is very well developed in this region. Popular sights include Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, and Auso Volcano. Other nearby destinations that are also on the must-see list of travelers include Amakusa for dolphin watching, Hityoshi for experiencing the "Little Kyoto of Kyushu" and the Yamaga hot springs.

 

This year marks the 60th year of China Airlines' founding. The airline is actively expanding its network to provide travelers with more diversity in their travel options. Flights from Kaohsiung to Japan have five destinations to choose from: Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Kumamoto and Okinawa. China Airlines also expects a strong market for travelers departing from southern Taiwan. The 19 destinations now available for flights from Kaohsiung International Airport and Tainan Airport are Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Hokkaido, Osaka, Tokyo, Okinawa, Kumamoto, Seoul, Changsha, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Hangzhou. China Airlines therefore provides the most destinations and capacity of any Taiwan carrier for travelers across southern Taiwan. (2019/06/03)