Public flight tracking shows an Eswatini government Airbus A340-313X departing Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) around midday today, October 14, to reposition to Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH). Tracking data recorded departure at 12:05 Taipei time and initially estimated arrival in Kaohsiung at 13:24. No official explanation of the purpose of this repositioning has been obtained, and the flight path alone cannot establish whether it involves aircraft maintenance or other arrangements.
The aircraft came to Taiwan carrying King Mswati III of Eswatini, Inkhosikati Make Zuma and their accompanying delegation for National Day celebrations and a state visit. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the delegation's visit runs from October 9 to 17. This is the king's 20th visit to Taiwan since his accession in 1986. The delegation's itinerary does not specify the purpose of the aircraft's repositioning to Kaohsiung.
The aircraft is registered 3DC-SDF and carries manufacturer serial number 406. It is used by the Eswatini government primarily for royal and government overseas visits. The aircraft has four CFM International CFM56-5C4 engines and is capable of long-haul operations.
3DC-SDF has longstanding ties to Taiwan's aviation industry. It previously operated as China Airlines B-18802, was delivered to the airline in 2001, and left service in 2015 before being flown to the United States for storage. Eswatini purchased the aircraft in 2016. Following approximately two years of refurbishment and conversion for government transport, it was delivered to the country's government in 2018. A previous TaiSounds report described links between the aircraft's technical training and maintenance support and Taiwan's aircraft maintenance sector. That historical background does not establish that this repositioning to Kaohsiung is for maintenance.
The Airbus A340-300 is a four-engine widebody aircraft that was once widely used on long-haul international services. As airlines have increasingly adopted more fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies, the number of A340-300s still operating worldwide has declined markedly. The repositioning of 3DC-SDF from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung has again drawn the attention of aviation photographers in Taiwan to this former China Airlines aircraft.
The aircraft is reportedly expected to remain in Kaohsiung until at least October 17 in connection with the conclusion of the king's Taiwan visit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the delegation's visit as ending on October 17, but the aircraft's length of stay, actual departure date and time, and whether it will leave Taiwan directly from Kaohsiung have not been publicly confirmed by officials. Aviation enthusiasts and members of the public who missed its arrival may still have an opportunity to photograph its departure. Actual flight arrangements remain subject to subsequent official information and flight updates.
