China Airlines splits $12 billion order between Boeing, Airbus

Taiwan’s China Airlines has announced a nearly $12 billion deal to renew its long-haul fleet, splitting the order between American aircraft manufacturer Boeing and European competitor Airbus. The airline is also set to purchase freighter aircraft from Boeing as part of the deal. The largest carrier in Taiwan had been evaluating the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000 as potential replacements for its current fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs, with the goal to facilitate future growth. On Thursday, China Airlines confirmed it would purchase 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, 10 Airbus A350-1000s, and four 777-8 freighter aircraft. The new aircraft are scheduled for delivery starting from 2029. In a statement, China Airlines highlighted its active planning for fleet size and its steady expansion in global passenger and cargo markets. The airline also specified that the A350s will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, while the 777-9s will be equipped with GE engines. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]