The chief executive of China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) has said the carrier plans to induct five A321neo aircraft and three B777-200Fs this year as part of its ongoing fleet renewal process.

Speaking to Taipei news outlets during a March 27 press conference, Kao Shing-Hwang also confirmed that the incoming Airbus jets would replace its aging B737-800 stock and that the airline expects to take delivery of twenty-four B787s by the close of 2028.

According to ch-aviation fleets data, China Airlines currently operates eleven A321-200NX, eighteen A330-300s, fifteen A350-900s, ten B737-800s, ten B747-400FSCDs, seven B777-300Fs, and ten B777-300ERs. Last November, Kao said during an earnings call that the carrier also intended to lease one more A350 this year "to improve its operating efficiency on long-haul routes." The airline also plans to accelerate the retirement of its ten B747 freighters.

Separately, Kao said at the news conference that China Airlines would resume flights to Seattle Tacoma International in July after a 16 year hiatus, explaining that the carrier was turning its attention to North America after recently expanding its European operations.