Boeing has booked its first Paris Air Show 2023 order with China Airlines, finalizing an agreement for eight 787-9 aircraft.
In total, the Taiwan-based airline will add 24 aircraft of the type to its fleet over the next few years. Of the 24, six will be the 787-10, as China Airlines converted six of its orders to the largest version of the 787.
The airline initially ordered 16 Boeing 787-9s, with eight options, in September 2022. It appears that the airline converted the eight options in May 2023, with the manufacturer’s announcement reading that, previously, the order for the eight 787-9s was booked under an unidentified customer(s) in Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries data.
However, the airline itself confirmed that it exercised the eight options on May 12, 2023. At that time, China Airlines said that deliveries of the initial order of 16 aircraft would begin in 2025, with all 24 Boeing 787s to be delivered by 2028. “The orders may also be converted to the higher capacity 787-10 model if necessary,” according to the airline’s announcement.
The eight options would be delivered from 2026 onwards.
China Airlines’ order marked the first deal secured by Boeing at the Paris Air Show 2023, with Airbus, its main rival, running away with the competition so far. While the European plane maker secured a number of smaller orders, including from Qantas, Air Mauritius, and flynas, the big one came from India-based IndiGo, which ordered 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft on the first day of the event.
IndiGo was also rumored to be purchasing Boeing 787 aircraft.