EVA Air (BR, Taipei Taoyuan) has firmed up a commitment to take eighteen A350-1000s and fifteen A321-200Ns, finalising the order according to a January 9, 2024, statement from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac). The prospective order was first announced in November 2023. EVA will use the widebodies to update its long-haul fleet, while the A321neo will deploy onto routes in North Asia.
“We have selected the Airbus aircraft following a thorough evaluation of the various models in each market segment," said EVA Air President, Clay Sun. "In both size categories we have selected the most modern and fuel efficient types, that offer the highest levels of passenger comfort."
ch-aviation fleets data shows Cathay Pacific is the sole existing Asia-based operator of the A350-1000, although worldwide, another six carriers now fly the type, including Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Caraibes Atlantique, British Airways, French Bee, and Etihad Airways. Before EVA Air locked in their order this week, Airbus had 134 A350-1000s on order and had delivered 78.
The smaller A321-200N is a more popular option among airline customers, with 94 in operation with 10 Asia-based carriers and 130 flying for 18 airlines worldwide. Airbus order data, which groups all A321 Neo types into the one category, reveals a combined order backlog of 4,403 as at November 30, 2023.
The Taiwanese carrier flies to 55 destinations in 22 countries with a fleet of 90 aircraft, including nineteen A321-200s, three A330-200s, nine A330-300s, one ACJ318-100, one ACJ319-100, eight B777-200Fs, thirty-four B777-300ERs, eleven B787-10s, and four B787-9s.
