China Airlines approves new widebody acquisitions, plans to retire 747-400Fs

China Airlines has approved a fleet plan that includes acquiring up to 18 new Airbus and Boeing widebody aircraft and retiring four Boeing 747-400 freighters, according to a disclosure the carrier filed with the Taiwan Stock Exchange. 

In the filing, China Airlines said its board authorized the purchase of five Airbus A350-1000s, five Boeing 777-9s, four 777-8 freighters and two 777Fs. The airline said the total value of the package will not exceed $7.852 billion. The new aircraft will support the carrier’s passenger growth strategy and long-term freighter replacement needs. 

China Airlines did not specify delivery timelines or engine selections for the newly approved aircraft. The A350-1000s will join the airline’s growing A350 family and expand its long-haul passenger operations. The 777-9s will replace older widebodies and grow capacity on high-demand routes once the aircraft enters service. 

On the cargo side, the 777-8F and 777F additions continue the airline’s shift toward newer, more fuel-efficient freighters. The move follows industry trends as operators transition from legacy four-engine freighters to twin-engine types with lower operating costs. 

As part of the fleet plan, China Airlines said it will dispose of four 747-400Fs. The airline has been phasing out the type as it modernizes its cargo fleet. The 747-400Fs have been central to China Airlines’ freighter operations for decades, but the carrier has gradually reduced the number of four-engine aircraft as maintenance and fuel costs rise. 

The board approval marks one of the airline’s largest combined passenger and cargo fleet actions in recent years. China Airlines continues to operate a diverse long-haul fleet that includes A350-900s, 777-300ERs and 747-400Fs. The new acquisitions suggest the carrier is positioning for future growth in both passenger and cargo markets as international demand continues to recover. 

China Airlines said the aircraft purchases remain subject to contract negotiations with Airbus and Boeing. China Airlines’ latest fleet move follows a separate disclosure earlier in 2025, when the carrier signaled plans to acquire up to 13 additional aircraft — five Airbus A350-900s and eight A321neos — in a June filing to the Taipei Stock Exchange. Those aircraft were part of a different proposed expansion valued at roughly $2 billion and included leased narrowbodies from ALC. The newly approved widebody plan, by contrast, represents a much larger investment and marks the airline’s most significant step yet in refreshing both its long-haul passenger fleet and its dedicated freighter operation.

The Taiwan-based carrier is the latest in Asia to add to its widebody fleet as airlines align long-term capacity plans with new-generation models. Boeing and Airbus have reported growing interest in both passenger and freighter widebodies in the Asia-Pacific region as airlines replace aging aircraft and prepare for continued growth in long-haul travel and air cargo. The post China Airlines approves new widebody acquisitions, plans to retire 747-400Fs appeared first on AeroTime.

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