China Airlines Confirms 777X & A350 Order

After lengthy discussions with Airbus and Boeing, China Airlines confirmed that it’ll purchase aircraft from both manufacturers.

The Taiwanese-based company had been seeking new widebody jets from the two playmakers to elevate its fleet, with growth and renewal at the centre of its attention.

China Airlines had long touted the 777X and A350 as the two respective aircraft types that would help propel it forward, and it has now confirmed that the purchase has gone through.

A fundamental decision to split the deal instead of sticking outright with one to ensure commonality is to have diversity alongside its fleet while trying to strengthen its flexibility in day-to-day flying.

While Airbus and Boeing would have preferred to win the entire contract rather than be left out, splitting the order in half may be the best possible scenario.

However, if anything, Boeing, the American planemaker, may consider themselves the winner of this order thanks to another commitment that was included in the deal, away from passenger operations.

The China Airlines Order

China Airlines confirmed that it would purchase 10 of the Boeing 777-9s, part of the broader 777X family and continue to ignore the smaller variant known as the 777-8.

To complement the 777-9s moving forward, they also announced a subsequent purchase for 10 A350-1000s from Airbus, with deliveries commencing in 2029.

Boeing may consider itself to have won through another purchase from China Airlines, which operates a robust cargo division and has seen high yields in increasingly specific markets focusing on e-commerce and pharmaceuticals.

China Airlines also noted that they would purchase four of Boeing’s newly announced and upcoming 777-8 Freighters. This plane will compete with Airbus’ A350F, so as a result more commitments went to Boeing in this deal.

Ultimately, the latest purchase will considerably boost Boeing, just as it is for Airbus. The American planemaker has previously struggled with orders for their upcoming long-haul jet.

Moreover, with continued certification delays and frustrations across the board, it’s been hard to see positivity surrounding the program. Despite this, things have slowly improved for the company in the last eighteen months, and new orders have come through.

Once these planes are delivered, China Airlines knows it’ll be able to operate incredibly efficiently with a core focus on flying some of the longest routes possible towards Europe and North America.

The airline will attempt to find the perfect balance between efficiency and meeting demand, and these next-generation aircraft will be ideal. They will likely remain in service well into the 2050s.