More Steam For The 777X With China Airlines Latest Order

Despite the massive delays and the still ongoing certification process Boeing racks up another order for its Boeing 777X. The aircraft once in service will become the largest passenger aircraft in production and therefore also the largest plane in Boeing’s lineup. A significant order comes from a long time customer in the far-east, China Airlines.

China Airlines: Up To 23 Boeing 777X Ordered in One Go

Well to be precise it’s not an order Boeing received in the last few days, nor are they 23 firm aircraft orders. Let’s unwrap that. China Airlines, national carrier of Taiwan, has undisclosed an order it had placed previously with Boeing. The airline’s order had been sitting in the manufacturer’s undisclosed orders column but is now open for us comment upon.

The order includes both passenger and freight versions of the Boeing 777X. More precisely the airline has placed a firm order for:

• 10 Boeing 777-9 (Passenger Version)
• 4 Boeing 777-8F (Freighter Version)

The deal though also includes the possibility for China Airlines to receive further planes at a later stage if it decides to activate options it holds for 9 more planes. The additional China Airlines Boeing 777X options are for:

• 5 Boeing 777-9 (Passenger Version)
• 4 Boeing 777-8F (Freighter Version)

When will the deliveries start taking plane? Well at the moment that’s anyone’s guess. The Boeing 777X, as mentioned above, is still undergoing its FAA certification and despite Boeing showing confidence of it being done and dusted by the end of the year, there is still no definitive date.

Maintaining The Boeing-Airbus Balance in The Fleet

The airline has had a long standing relationship with Boeing as it has operated, over the years, some of the manufacturer’s most successful and largest aircraft. Among them the Boeing 747s over multiple generations and the Boeing 777-300ER which, will be replaced by the 777X.

However the China Airlines Boeing 777X order is significant as it also maintains manufacturer balance in the long range segment of the airline’s fleet.

At the moment China Airlines has received all its ordered Airbus A350-900 and therefore its wide body aircraft operations are disproportionately leaning in Airbus’ favor. Out of 41 wide body passenger planes 31 are Airbus produced with another 10 A350-1000 still to arrive. Therefore this order, along with the prior one placed for 24 Boeing 787s, will rebalance Boeing-Airbus presence in the long range segment of the fleet.