This Airline Just Ordered 5 New Airbus A350-1000s

China Airlines has placed another order with Airbus for a further five A350s, thereby increasing the airline’s order for the larger A350-1000s. These jets, once delivered, will complement the airline’s existing fleet of over a dozen of the smaller A350-900s.

Capable of long-range operations at extremely efficient operational economics, the A350-1000 will not only help the airline modernize its fleet and contribute to its future growth. Indeed, it will also improve the onboard customer experience and deliver a competitive service.

Increasing The A350 Order Number

European manufacturer Airbus has received an order for a further five flagship widebody aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, from its existing customer, China Airlines, which will see the number of aircraft of the type on order for the airline increase from 10 to 15. Upon delivery, these aircraft will join 15 of their smaller variant, the Airbus A350-900 aircraft currently already operated by the carrier.#

Per the airline’s fleet page, the carrier, apart from the A350s, currently also operates 13 Airbus A330-300 and 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The A350-1000s, with their leading range of 9,000 NM (16,700 km), will essentially help the airline build its long-haul fleet and subsequently enable the expansion of the carrier’s network, while also delivering efficient operational economics with their technologically advanced engines, aircraft systems, and structure.

These advantages decrease the fuel burn by 25% compared to previous generation aircraft, which subsequently reduces the operating costs for the airline. The airline’s Chairman stated that this order was placed in line with the carrier’s long-term growth strategy, and in the Airbus press release, China Airlines’ Chairman, Kao Shin-Hwang, commented:

“The A350’s exceptional efficiency and passenger comfort align with our goals to modernise our fleet, enhance long-haul competitiveness and deliver an elevated travel experience to our customers.”

Comparing The Larger -1000 With The A350-900

Nicknamed the ‘Long-Range Leader,’ both variants of the A350 boast some of the longest ranges among commercial aircraft, with leading operational efficiency. So, how do they compare? According to data from aeroLOPA, the A350-900 in China Airlines’ fleet is configured in two variations, with one configuration accommodating 306 passengers across three classes. Meanwhile, the second configuration accommodates 300 passengers across a more premium-heavy three-class layout.

Other important metrics include the A350-1000 being capable of carrying an additional 1,812 litres of fuel, which enables a higher operational range than the -900. Furthermore, the -1000 is also rated to take off with 39 tonnes more than the -900, which translates into being able to carry three additional cargo pallets or eight more LD3 containers.

Considering the manufacturing specifications from Airbus for these aircraft, if China Airlines chose to configure the upcoming A350-1000s with the same three-class configuration, the larger aircraft would be capable of accommodating a few dozen additional passengers across its business, premium economy, and economy cabins.

Future Deliveries From Boeing

It is worth looking at other long-haul aircraft China Airlines has on order. While the aforementioned 15 A350s make up the Airbus side of the airline’s order books, when looking at Boeing’s side, as of the end of November, the airline has 47 long-haul aircraft on order. These include 18 Boeing 787-9s and six units of the larger 787-10 Dreamliner. The remaining 23 aircraft are for the upcoming Boeing 777X aircraft.

The airline placed the order for the 777X earlier this year, in May, during which time the airline specified that this order consists of 14 firm aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-9s, four Boeing 777-8Fs, and nine options. The airline plans to deploy the larger 777-9s to North American and European destinations, while the 777-8Fs are intended to complement the airline’s existing cargo capacity. This is currently provided by the Boeing 777F and Boeing 747-400F aircraft.

Overall, data indicates that China Airlines will see considerable network and long-haul operational growth in the coming years, with the airline set to increase its passenger and cargo capacity with the latest generation aircraft available in the market. This will make the airline more competitive, while providing its customers with an enhanced travel experience.