China Airlines announced today it would add four more Boeing 777 freighters to its already existing order. Coming off of a record-performing cargo year, the airline hopes to snag market share with its 777F fleet, even as it prepares to say goodbye to the majority of its 747s.

Deliveries will keep rolling to 2024

Taiwan's China Airlines has experienced a record in cargo performance and is betting demand won't slow down anytime soon. On Thursday, the carrier announced together with Boeing that it had placed an order for four 777 freighters.

The new order is valued at $1.4 billion at list price, and the airline says it will enable it to capture new market opportunities along with the growth in global airfreight. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2023 and be completed by 2024.

They will add to an existing order for six of the type that began arriving in 2020. There are three Triple Seven freighters currently in China Airlines' fleet, two slated for delivery later this year, and one already scheduled for 2023. Boeing delivered the first 777F to Air China in 2020.

"The 777 Freighter has played a critical role in our efforts to maintain profitability during the pandemic, and these additional airplanes will be an integral part of our long-term growth strategy. (...) Our fleet modernization program will enable us to deliver added value to our customers, especially as the global supply chain continues to evolve," said China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Su-Chien in a statement. 

China Airlines 777
China Airlines operates a mixed fleet, including ten passenger Triple Sevens. Photo: Boeing

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Freighter-assisted profitability for Taiwan

In 2021, China Airlines' cargo revenue was up 186% compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. During the third quarter of last year, the airline managed to turn its figures back into profitability, along with its compatriot carrier EVA Air. Both airlines have cited a strong cargo performance as the driving force behind getting them back on track.

China Airlines says it is currently the fifth-largest cargo carrier in the world. Its ongoing fleet acquisition program is intended to 'boost operating performance by balancing network development and market movements against the aircraft replacement schedule'.

The Taiwanese flag carrier operates a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet. Its long-haul passenger fleet includes 23 A330s and 14 A350s. Meanwhile, it also has ten passenger 777-300ERs. For cargo purposes, China Airlines still maintains quite an impressive collection of 18 Boeing 747-400FSCD aircraft. However, most of them are meant to be retired before long, the airline recently announced.

China Airlines 747 cargo
China Airlines operates a fleet of 18 cargo 747s. Photo: scott wright via Wikimedia Commons

Record-breaking cargo year in 2021

In 2021, China Airlines broke several cargo records. For instance, the airline says that one month (unclear which), it operated over 100 cargo charter flights. In December, it surpassed TWD 15.4 billion (approximately US$540 million) in single-month cargo revenue, hitting a five-month streak of over TWD 10 billion (US$360 million) in revenue and topping TWD 100 billion (US$3.6 billion) for the entire year.