Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) is to order up to 20 Airbus A350 XWBs after selecting the aircraft over the competing Boeing 787 following a long-running evaluation.
The carrier says in a statement that its board has today approved the signing of a letter of intent for up to 20 A350-900s for delivery between 2015 and 2020.
Its letter of intent comprises 14 firm orders and six options. The twinjets, which it says will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, will replace CAL’s Airbus A340-300s.
CAL says the aircraft will also be used to help expand its “mid-haul and long-haul services”.
The airline began evaluating aircraft in the size category early this year. It has also been evaluating the larger Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
