China Airlines confirms order for 14 Boeing 777X
Nearly five months after announcing plans to order the Boeing 777X, China Airlines has finally confirmed the order that includes 10 777-9s and four 777-8F freighters.
The order, however, had already been on the US planemaker’s backlog since March as an unidentified customer.
Confirmation of the deal had been expected since last December when the Taiwanese carrier revealed its widebody expansion plan, which also included 10 Airbus A350-1000s.
The European manufacturer, however, confirmed the order as signed on April 8.
The new aircraft will be used on long-haul flights to North America and Europe and are expected to replace the current first-generation 777s.
“As a long-time operator of the 777-300ER and 777 Freighter, we are excited to welcome Boeing’s newest 777X family into our world-class fleet,” said Kao Shing-Hwang, chairman of China Airlines.
Boeing says the 777-9 will be able to fly up to 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km) with up to 426 passengers in two classes, while offering 20 percent lower fuel burn and emissions.
Neither Boeing nor China Airlines has said when deliveries of the planes will begin. The 777X is expected to be certified by the end of the year, and deliveries to the first customers are expected in 2026.
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