Taiwan’s flag carrier, China Airlines, has had its board approve up to 18 new aircraft, which will fuel the airline’s ambitious international growth plan. As analysed by AeroTime, the order will include two passenger variants made up of the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777-9, alongside 777-8 and 777F freighters.

These new airplanes will replace older wilderbodies in the airline’s passenger fleet, while also seeing the retirement of China Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighters. From its home at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the airline has an extensive Asian network, with a number of long-haul services to Europe, Australia, and North America.

18 New Aircraft

Specifically, the order will include five additional Airbus A350-1000 and five Boeing 777-9 (also known as the Boeing 777X). These aircraft will replace the ten aging Boeing 777-300ER airplanes, which are currently configured to carry up to 358 passengers across four classes of service and support high-density services across Asia and beyond.

Additionally, the cargo arm of the airline will see up to six new aircraft, which include four Boeing 777-8F , and two additional 777F. All aircraft included in this annoucement are yet to have their specific delivery time frames disclosed, or which engine options the SkyTeam carrier will decide on.

This move by the China Airlines board is one of the largest in the airline’s recent history, with many in the industry believing that this decision will further cement the carrier for future growth, not only in the passenger market, but also in cargo operations as the post-pandemic thaw continues to accelerate demand.

The Airbus A350-1000

China Airlines’ decision to add additional A350-1000s will support the carrier’s long-haul routes to both North America and Europe. Currently, the airline already operates to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Václav Havel Airport Prague, Rome Fiumicino, and Vienna International Airport, and this latest move could see the airline eventually add even more European gateways.

North America also remains firmly on the airline’s radar, with China Airlines already serving Los Angeles, New York JFK, Ontario, San Francisco, and Seattle Tacoma in the United States, with Phoenix set to be added on December 3. Vancouver in Canada is the airline’s only current Canadian destination, but could Toronto be next?

The Airbus A350-1000 will offer the airline superior range, fuel efficiency, as well as additional comfort for passengers, bringing an elevated experience that is demanded in the market for long-haul travel.

Subject To Contract Negotiations

These orders are subject to contact negotiations with both European plane maker Airbus and America’s Boeing; however, these aircraft are integral to the airline’s future fleet plan. China Airlines has already started the process to retire and dispose of four of its oldest Boeing 747-400F, which have been the centre of the airline’s fleet for decades.

Data from ch-aviation identifies that China Airlines currently operates a modest-sized fleet of 85 aircraft, primarily all widebodies apart from the Airbus A321neo, which is replacing the Boeing 737-800. Full analysis below:

Additionally, the current cargo fleet is made up of eight Boeing 747-400F, ten Boeing 777F (with two more on order), and expects the first of eight new Boeing 777-8F to be delivered from 2030.

China Airlines is a partially state-owned enterprise and is owned and managed by the China Airlines Group. It is a member of SkyTeam, and has sister airlines Mandarin Airlines and TigerAirTaiwan. While its main hub and primary gateway for long-haul operations are from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the airline has two focus cities at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) and Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA).