CAL Chairman Hsieh Shih-chien dies aged 73

Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) Hsieh Shih-chien (謝世謙), chairman of Taiwan-based China Airlines (CAL), passed away on Thursday at the age of 73, the airline confirmed in a statement.

Hsieh, who disclosed he had influenza while signing a collective labor agreement with the China Airlines Employees' Union on Wednesday, died at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital on Thursday morning following a suspected heart attack, an industry insider said.

On Wednesday, he arrived at the venue around 2 p.m., wearing a face mask and greeting reporters.

However, he did not shake hands with Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Kuo-shian (林國顯) and Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) after he told them he had the flu, the industry source said.

Hsieh worked at CAL for 46 years. During his tenure, he led the management team and employees to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company's post-pandemic performance soared significantly. In 2024, CAL revenue was the highest ever in its 65 years of operations, the airline said in its statement issued Thursday afternoon.

According to the CAL statement, Hsieh joined the airline in 1979 and started as a grassroots financial clerk.

Hsieh then worked in several departments, including accounting, customer service and marketing. He held positions including general manager of the CAL Indonesian branch and the Australian branch.

He became CAL president and CAL subsidiary Mandarin Airlines chairman in 2016 and took up the position of CAL chairman in 2019, according to the statement.

After Hsieh's death, CAL President Kao Shing-hwang (高星潢) is expected to take over in an acting capacity as chairman of the Taiwan-based carrier, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said in a statement issued later Thursday.