China Airlines looks to offload more 747 freighters
23 / 11 / 2023
Photo China Airlines Cargo
China Airlines is looking to offload five of its ageing Boeing 747 freighters next year.
The Taiwan-based carrier has mandated AMS Aircraft Services (‘AMS’) to sell, via a Request For Proposal (‘RFP’) process, the five 747-400 freighters.
The aircraft, all CF6-powered, were manufactured between 2001 and 2003 and are available for delivery from April through October 2024.
The decision to offload the freighters comes as the carrier has been busy renewing its cargo fleet.
Last year, the carrier announced an order of four Boeing 777 freighters, in addition to the six it had previously ordered.
So far, the carrier has taken delivery of seven of the 777Fs while its fleet of 747 freighters is down from its previous high of 18.
In total, PlaneSpotter.net shows that the carrier currently operates 14 747-400Fs but eight of these have been parked.
By the end of the year, the airline is aiming to have offloaded another 747 freighter to bring the total number down to 13.
The remaining three 777 freighters are due for delivery next year.
When the 777 order was initially announced, the carrier said: “The ongoing fleet acquisition programme will boost operating performance by balancing network development and market movements against the aircraft replacement schedule.”
In the first half of the year, China Airlines saw its cargo revenues decline by 54.5% to TWD29.3bn as the market re-adjusted following the Covid pandemic.
