Taiwan’s national airline, China Airlines, will grow its fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft to 24 by the year 2028. That’s according to a press release published on the airline’s website on Wednesday. According to the statement, Airline Chairman Hsieh Su-chien (謝世謙) signed a contract with Boeing finalizing an order for eight 787 passenger aircrafts during his attendance at the 2023 Paris Air Show. The move will increase the total number of Boeing 787s in China Airlines’ fleet to 24.
China Airlines says that 16 Boeing 787 passenger planes were purchased in August, 2022. Delivery for these 16 planes is expected to begin in 2025, while deliveries for the most recent order will commence the following year.
China Airlines said that the new generation of 787 planes reduce both fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 20% over the previous generation. These features not only lower fuel costs but also advance China Airlines’ goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
China Airlines currently operates 87 passenger and cargo aircrafts. The introduction of the new 787s will replace most of the current A330-300 planes, most of which are more than 15 years old.