China Airlines, a Taiwan-based carrier, has
confirmed that it will exercise options on eight Boeing 787-9 passenger aircraft,
with deliveries scheduled from 2026.
China
Airlines’ 787-9 passenger aircraft will be configured with three
cabin classes: Premium Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
The new aircraft will be assigned to regional,
Oceania and long-haul routes to meet burgeoning passenger demand.
Up to 36 containers can be
loaded into the belly hold of the 787-9, giving a major boost to China Airlines’
cargo capacity.
China Airlines ordered 16 Boeing 787-9 passenger aircraft
fitted with General Electric GEnx engines in August 2022
with deliveries to commence in 2025.
The eight
additional aircraft will bring the total size of China Airlines’
Boeing 787 fleet to
24 aircraft once all have been delivered by 2028.
The airline also has the option to
convert its selection to the higher capacity 787-10 model if necessary.
In addition to operating Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A350-900 and A321neo and
B787 aircraft on long-haul,
medium-haul and short-haul regional routes, China Airlines is also in the midst of an aggressive
fleet revitalization program aimed at improving operational
efficiency and the overall travel experience.
