China Airlines Expands Airbus A350-1000 Order to 15 Aircraft

Taiwan is a small island country but it is extremely strategic to aircraft manufacturers. The island of Formosa is home to 3 major successful carriers that operate serving cargo and passenger needs from and to the country. Taiwan is a tech industrial powerhouse and much business is done by large companies here. Therefore it is extremely important for manufacturers to seal deals with the three Taiwanese carriers. The latest deal to be sealed is an expansion of a previous one from April 2025 between China Airlines and Airbus.

China Airlines Orders Five Additional Airbus A350-1000s

Back in April 2025, almost simultaneously, the two largest Taiwan-based carriers placed orders with Airbus for the largest aircraft it currently produces. Both EVA Air and China Airlines ordered the A350-1000, passenger version.

Now, just a few months down the road, China Airlines has decided to invest more in the aircraft type.

China Airlines’ original A350-1000 order was for a total of 10 aircraft. Now that backlog is going up with the carrier placing another 5 units in the Airbus order book. That now brings the total number of A350-1000s on order to 15.

A350-1000 vs A350-900: Capacity and Range Differences

The A350-1000 differs in two key aspects from its smaller brother, the A350-900:

• Range
• Payload

The planes have the same fuselage size, which in theory is capable of fitting a 3-4-3 seat layout in economy, with most airlines however still opting for a 3-3-3.

China Airlines’ Long-Haul Fleet Strategy

The additional 5 Airbus A350-1000 order is part of a wider effort by the airline to modernize its fleet. China Airlines already operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A350-900s and will eventually have just as many A350-1000. The A350-1000 will become, along with the Boeing 777X which the airline has also ordered, the flagship aircraft of the Taiwanese flag carrier’s fleet.