Taiwan’s China Airlines has confirmed that it has placed a firm order with Boeing for 16 787-9 wide-body jets which will be used to replace the carrier’s ageing fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft. At a list price of US$4.6 billion, the deal was announced by the government-backed carrier shortly after the visit to Taipei by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi which had upset Beijing and added fuel to the fire concerning Sino-U.S. trade tensions. However, according to Reuters news agency, Boeing were at pains to make it clear that the company had avoided using Pelosi’s visit to actively lobby on the American planemaker’s behalf.
The deal is good news for Boeing as it is both a sign of market recovery in demand for the wide-body jet as well as a boost for the company after the 15-month halt to production and deliveries while production issues were resolved. This latest order also includes options for a further eight aircraft together with conversion rights to the higher-capacity 787-10 model. China Airlines credited the 787’s cargo-carrying ability as a major influence on the carrier’s decision to opt for the 787 as opposed to latest Airbus 330neo. Deliveries of the jets are expected to begin in 2025. (£1.00 = US$1.17 at time of publication).
