The chairman of China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) says he expects industrial action at Boeing to have minimal impact on his aircraft deliveries. Hsieh Su-chien told Taipei-based outlets on the weekend that beyond delays to one B777-200F due this month, he does not expect any further problems.
Strikes by 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union have impacted Boeing's production of B737s, B767s, and B777s. Nine of ten B777Fs ordered by China Airlines have been delivered. However, the strikes are holding up the handing over of the last freighter, the delivery of which has already been pushed back by Boeing.
B787 production remains unaffected by the industrial action, and Hsieh says Boeing will start fulfilling an order for six B787-10s and eighteen B787-9s next year.
Meanwhile, China Airlines continues to evaluate an order for either B777X types or A350-1000s to replace its fleet of B777-300ERs. Hsieh said the evaluation process is underway, and there is no political pressure to favour either manufacturer.
"When it comes to buying aircraft, it is China Airlines ourselves who makes the assessment," he said. "I want to clarify this."
The carrier's 2022 B787 order became highly politicised and coincided with visits and sales pitches by senior US politicians.
The ch-aviation PRO airlines module reveals that China Airlines operates to 73 airports in 23 countries with a fleet of 82 aircraft, including thirteen A321-200NX, seventeen A330-300s, fifteen A350-900s, ten B737-800s, eight B747-400FSCDs, nine B777-200Fs, and ten B777-300ERs.
In addition to the aircraft due from Boeing, China Airlines has eleven A321neo on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) that will replace its B737-800s. The carrier expects these planes by the end of 2026.
