Taiwan-based China Airlines is reportedly considering placing an order for new freighters against a backdrop of maintaining Taiwan’s relationship with the US.
The airline is considering an order for four freighters alongside as many as 20 passenger aircraft, according to a source known to Reuters, and the US election result is being taken into account as part of the decision over which freighter model to order.
Air Cargo News has reached out to China Airlines for comment regarding the report. According to China Airlines’ website, as of October 31, the airline had 17 freighters in its fleet, including nine Boeing 777Fs and eight Boeing 747-400Fs.
While China Airlines currently only has Boeing freighters in its fleet, ACN understands the airline hasn’t indicated a preference for either Boeing or Airbus freighter models, although if relations with the US are a consideration an order with US-based Boeing would make more sense.
If the airline chooses to purchase either of the new generation Boeing 777-8F or Airbus A350F models then it will be in for a lengthy wait.
The 777-8F was originally anticipated to come to market in 2027, but last month Boeing said the aircraft’s market launch would be delayed until 2028.
This delay will mean that Qatar Airways, the launch customer for the 777-8F, will have to wait over six years for the first aircraft, as its firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more was announced in January 2022.
Aside from Qatar’s order, there are several other airlines that have invested in the 777-8F. Cargolux has ordered 10, Lufthansa has ordered seven, All Nippon Airways has ordered two and Silk Way West has also ordered two.
The 777-8F offers a maximum structural payload of 118 tonnes and a range of 8,167 km.
Meanwhile, Airbus has also shifted the entry into service date for the A350 freighter from the end of 2025 into 2026.
A350F orders now total 55 from 10 customers. Starlux Airlines has ordered five aircraft, with options for another five. Turkish Airlines has ordered five and Cathay Cargo has ordered six with the right to order 20 more.
Air France-KLM Group has also ordered eight, while Singapore Airlines has ordered seven. Further, Silk Way West Airlines has ordered two and Etihad Cargo has ordered seven.
The A350F has a range of nearly 9,000 km and up to 111 metric tons of payload.
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