China Airlines plans major upgrades for entire Airbus A350 fleet

The Letter of Intent was announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in May, with the project's cost estimated at around $400 million. All 15 aircraft are expected to be retrofitted by the end of 2028.

This move comes after Cathay Pacific's introduction of its 'Aria Suite' product this year and Singapore Airlines' $835 million retrofit program for its A350-900 long-haul fleet. With more airlines opting for suite-style business cabins, Airbus notes that the A350 can accommodate four enclosed suites per row in a 1-2-1 configuration.

China Airlines received its first A350 in September 2016 and expanded its fleet to 15 aircraft by early 2024. The carrier's A350s currently serve nearly 20 destinations across Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe.

Airbus anticipates continued demand for A350 cabin retrofits as many planes approach eight years in service—the typical age for such updates. By 2028, approximately 390 A350s will reach this milestone.

China Airlines is heavily investing in modernizing its long-haul fleet and plans to divide an upcoming order between Boeing's 777X and Airbus's A350-1000 models. This deal is estimated at around $4 billion.