China Airlines pleases Boeing, Airbus with 777X, A350-1000 orders
China Airlines has decided to diversify its fleet of next-generation long-range aircraft by choosing to buy both the Boeing 777X and the rival Airbus A350.
The Taiwanese carrier, which already operates both jets, has ordered 10 A350-1000s, another 10 777-9s and four 777-8Fs in a deal valued at $11.8 billion.
Deliveries of the aircraft will not begin until 2029, however. With the new fleet, China Airlines intends to retire the Boeing 777-300ERs, which are relatively new, with an average age of 10 years.
The long-haul fleet also consists of 16 old A330-300s and 15 A350-900s. The airline also has 24 787 Dreamliners on order, 18 of which are 787-9s and six are 787-10s.
The current freighters are nine Boeing 777Fs, which should be partially replaced by the more capable 777-8F.
Airbus has also offered the A350F on the market, but China Airlines preferred its competitor even though it is expected to enter service later.
Its main destinations are in Asia, but there are routes to some countries in Europe, Oceania and the East and West Coasts of North America.
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