Taiwanese airline China Airlines has increased its existing order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, placing a firm order for five additional A350-1000 aircraft. This brings the total number of this variant ordered by the carrier to 15. The new aircraft will supplement the existing fleet of 15 smaller A350-900s. With this investment, the company aims to significantly modernize its long-haul network and strengthen its competitiveness on intercontinental routes, particularly to North America and Europe.
The A350-1000 is considered the largest and most powerful member of the A350 family and is designed for a range of up to 18.000 kilometers. Equipped with the latest generation of Rolls-Royce engines and a lightweight composite construction, the aircraft offers significant advantages in operating costs. Compared to older models, fuel consumption per seat is reduced by approximately 25 percent. China Airlines utilizes the increased capacity of the 1000 variant to carry more passengers on high-demand routes without increasing flight frequency.
The strategic decision to expand the Airbus fleet comes against the backdrop of intense competition at the Taipei hub. In addition to China Airlines, competitors such as EVA Air and the fledgling carrier Starlux Airlines are also investing heavily in modern wide-body aircraft. Industry reports suggest that the new A350-1000s could gradually replace older Boeing 777-300ERs to improve fleet homogeneity. Airbus announced that the A350 family had received nearly 1.500 orders from 66 customers worldwide by the end of November 2025, solidifying the model's market position in the long-haul wide-body segment.
In addition to technical efficiency, the airline is focusing on enhancing passenger comfort. The Airbus "Airspace" cabin offers an improved travel atmosphere on ultra-long-haul flights thanks to optimized pressurization and modern LED lighting systems. Chairman Kao Shing-Hwang emphasized that expanding the fleet is a crucial step in the long-term growth strategy. Deliveries of the five additional aircraft are expected in the coming years and will be seamlessly integrated into existing flight operations to maximize operational flexibility in serving global markets.