Taiwan’s China Airlines eyes A330 replacement

Even though its immediate focus is on prioritising its successful cargo operations, China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) is studying a possible replacement for its fleet of passenger A330s, Chairman Hsieh Su-Chien told Orient Aviation.

“We continue to explore the feasibility of a new widebody passenger aircraft replacement for the A330-300 fleet,” he pointed out.

The Taiwanese flag carrier operates twenty-three A330-300s, which are 14.1 years of age on average, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. The airline owns eight of these aircraft, while the remaining 15 are leased from Altavair (five), Carlyle Aviation Partners (two), Dara Aviation (one), Minsheng Financial Leasing (one), Deucalion Aviation (two), Castlelake (two), Goshawk (one), and Avolon (one), according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module.

The airline’s widebody fleet also comprises fourteen A350-900s and ten B777-300(ER)s. It retired all B747-400s ahead of schedule in the first quarter of 2021.

Hsieh pointed out that as the airline considers the future of its passenger fleet, its current focus is primarily on cargo which currently account for around 90% of the airline’s revenue. It was also the driving force behind the NTD1.55 billion New Taiwanese dollar (USD55.6 million) net profit posted by the airline for the first three quarters of 2021. In order to further develop the sector, China Airlines has been expanding its fleet of B777-200Fs of which it currently operates three units of the type with firm orders for another seven due through 2024.

“Our top priority was a balance between epidemic prevention and operations. Agile dispatching for passengers and cargo saw China Airlines and our management team deliver a strong result in 2021 despite the devastation in the global airline industry,” Hsieh said.