Pilotcenter.net News reports that China Airlines is on the verge of making a significant decision regarding a new order for long-haul aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. Rumors have it that the Taiwanese airline is eyeing the purchase of around 20 aircraft, evenly split between Boeing 777Xs and Airbus A350-1000s. Sources within the industry have hinted to Pilotcenter.net News that this potential multi-million-dollar deal could also involve acquiring freighter aircraft. These state-of-the-art planes would serve as replacements for China Airlines' current fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs.

Earlier reports circulating back in October 2024 suggested that China Airlines was considering placing an order for Boeing 777Xs and Airbus A350-1000s. However, recent developments indicate that a final agreement may be just around the corner. In addition to this possible order, China Airlines has previously secured deals for 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners (comprising six 787-8s and 18 787-9s) and has pending deliveries of the Airbus A321NX to update its regional aircraft fleet.

As per ch-aviation, China Airlines currently operates 15 A350-900s, 13 A330-300s, and nine 737-800s. If the new long-haul aircraft purchase goes through, these planes would likely bolster the airline's flight routes between Taipei and various US cities that are already serviced by China Airlines. Notably, destinations such as New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO) exclusively use the carrier's 777-300ERs, while Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (California-ONT), and Seattle (SEA) are handled by either 777s or Airbus A350-900s. This strategic move could enhance the airline's operational capacity and passenger connectivity in these key markets.