Air China (CA, Beijing Capital) has officially retired the A340-300 from its Southwest Branch following the recent completion of its final flight, Paris CDG to Shanghai Pudong, on August 1. Air China's overall fleet however, still retains four of the type used on flights from Shanghai to Chengdu Shuangliu, Guangzhou and Taipei Taoyuan and between Beijing and Chengdu. In light of soaring fuel and operational costs, the airline's intercontinental routes from Shanghai will now exclusively be operated by A330-200s.