China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) is extending the leases on its A330 and B737 aircraft to make up for a shortfall in capacity, according to chairman Hsieh Su-Chien. Speaking at an institutional investor conference on November 21, he said the extensions are a response to supply chain challenges and will improve network resilience.
The airline currently expects deliveries of eight aircraft in 2025, including the first of twenty-four B787s, more A321-200NX aircraft, and a final B777-200F. China Airlines is progressively introducing twenty-five of the A321neo, with nineteen expected in service next year and full delivery by 2026.
The B787 fleet, now comprising eighteen B787-9s and six B787-10 passenger aircraft, will become the mainstay of the regional, medium-haul, and long-haul routes. Additionally, China Airlines will begin retrofitting the cabins of fifteen A350-900 passenger aircraft in 2027.
According to ch-aviation fleets data, China Airlines operates sixteen A330-300s and ten B737-800s. At least three of the A330-300s are due to be returned in 2025 and six in 2026. Three of the B737-800s are due back in 2025 and five in 2026.
The arrival of the final B777F will take the carrier's B777F tally to ten. Retirement of the B747-400FSCD, of which eight are currently in service, will be accelerated. Hsieh said the freighters supplement existing passenger aircraft bellyhold capacity.
