China Airlines (12 A321neos)

China AL choose a321neo for narrowbody fleet renewal:
www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/77934-china-airlines-chooses-a321neo-for-narrowbody-renewal
full text:
"China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) has announced it has selected the A321neo for its narrowbody fleet renewal plan and tentatively, the B777-F for its widebody freighter fleet renewal plan.

In a statement, the Taiwanese carrier said its board had considered the A320neo and A321neo from Airbus as well as the B737-8 and -9 from Boeing. However, given the numerous opinions presented during internal discussions, a final decision was delayed from mid-2018 until now.

According to the carrier, it will initially lease fourteen A321neo due for delivery from 2021 onwards. It has also begun negotiations for firm orders for eleven more A321neo from Airbus along with five options.

China Airlines currently operates eighteen B737-800s while its Tigerair Taiwan (IT, Taipei Taoyuan) subsidiary operates eleven A320ceo. It did not specifically comment on whether the LCC's own fleet renewal plan had been incorporated into this new acquisition.

Insofar as its freighter order is concerned, China Airlines said it had signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOU) with Boeing for a study which focusses on the use of the B777-F. The partnership includes a potential order for three firm B777-Fs along with three options.

The aircraft, whose delivery dates were not revealed given the absence of a firm commitment, would be used to partially replace China Airlines' current fleet of eighteen B747-400(FSCD)s used on routes to Europe and North America, it said."