Taiwan’s China Airlines is nearing a decision to split a multi-billion-dollar order for long-distance passenger jets between Airbus and Boeing, while an order for freighters hangs in the balance, industry sources told Reuters.
The decision will come as the United States’ presidential election ended with the Republican Donald Trump sweeping back into office, and Taiwan keen to ensure the new U.S. government understands Taipei’s desire to ensure strong relations continue.
Taiwan’s largest carrier has been weighing Boeing’s 777X and the Airbus A350-1000 as replacements for its fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs and to provide capacity for future growth.
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The sources said China Airlines could order as many as 20 passenger jets to be split roughly equally between the two plane giants, while the choice of freighters was at least partly being weighed against the backdrop of U.S. presidential elections.
Such a deal for the passenger jets would be worth almost $4 billion after typical industry discounts, according to estimated delivery prices from aviation consultancy Cirium Ascend.A final decision depends on the airline’s board and there is no guarantee at present about the numbers and types of planes in any formal deal, the sources said.
China Airlines ordered 16 Boeing 787-9s in 2022 to replace its ageing fleet of Airbus A330s.
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