China Airlines Expands its Fleet with New Airbus and Boeing Orders

China Airlines has announced orders for 24 widebody aircraft, from Airbus and Boeing, as well as additional spare engines, revealing its strategic vision for modernization and growth.

China Airlines has committed to purchasing ten Airbus A350-1000, ten Boeing 777-9, and four Boeing 777-8F freighter aircraft. The carrier detailed that the cost per aircraft would not exceed $448 million for the A350-1000, $530 million for the 777-9, and $519 million for the 777-8F. Altogether, the total value of this acquisition is capped at $11.85 billion.

Alongside the Airbus and Boeing orders, China Airlines also invested in four GE Aerospace GE9X engines and three Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines. These engines are the exclusive power sources for the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000, respectively. The airline disclosed that each GE9X engine would cost no more than $59.2 million, while each XWB-97 engine is priced at a maximum of $51.2 million. The total expenditure for the seven spare engines is expected to reach no more than $390.4 million.

Airbus: A Strong December for Orders

The Airbus order represents the third major A350 family commitment in December 2024. Earlier in the month, Air Calin of New Caledonia purchased two A350-900s, while Air India revealed itself as the previously undisclosed customer for ten A350s—reportedly a mix of five A350-900s and five A350-1000s. Furthermore, Air India expanded its backlog with an additional 90 A320neo family aircraft, strengthening its position in the narrowbody market.

Airbus has also reported five more A350-900s assigned to an undisclosed customer, with the order placed on November 27. These developments underscore a strong year-end performance for the European manufacturer.

New Boeing 777X Orders!

China Airlines’ order for the Boeing 777X family adds momentum to the aircraft manufacturer’s sales in 2024. The airline now includes these aircraft in its backlog, which already featured one 777F, 18 787-9, and six 787-10 aircraft, as per Boeing’s orders and deliveries filings.

Boeing’s 777X program has seen growing interest this year, with notable orders from Ethiopian Airlines for eight firm and 12 optional 777-9 aircraft, Korean Air for 20 777-9s (pending finalization), and Qatar Airways for another 20 units. These agreements were highlighted during the Farnborough International Airshow, showcasing Boeing’s continued success in the widebody market.

China Airlines is not alone in expanding its fleet this year. EVA Air finalized an agreement in January for 18 Airbus A350-1000s and 15 A321neos. In February, Starlux Airlines committed to three Airbus A330-900s and five A350 freighters, further indicating robust growth across Taiwan’s aviation sector.

China Airlines Modernizing an Aging Fleet

According to data from ch-aviation, China Airlines currently operates a fleet of 82 aircraft, including 14 A321neos, 16 A330-300s, 15 A350-900s, ten 737-800s, eight 747-400Fs, nine 777Fs, and ten 777-300ERs. While the majority of the fleet averages less than ten years old, some models are aging. For instance, the Airbus A330-300s average 17.2 years, and the Boeing 747-400Fs average 19.3 years per aircraft. These new orders aim to address the replacement of these older widebodies, ensuring China Airlines remains competitive and efficient in the long term.

• Featured image By Sam Reeves Photography

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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