China Airlines is undergoing a long-haul fleet renewal program. In 2008, the carrier firmed up an order for 14 Airbus A350-900 aircraft along with another 6 options.[33] In 2012, an order for 6 Boeing 777-300ER and a lease agreement with GECAS for 4 more of the type were confirmed. Both the Airbus A350-900 and the Boeing 777-300ER will be replacements of the carrier's Airbus A340-300 and Boeing 747-400 on intercontinental routes. Deliveries of the Airbus A350-900 will start in 2016 while those for the Boeing 777-300ER has started in 2014. [34]
In June 2014, the airline announced plans to retire all of its Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-300. Two Boeing 747-400, namely N168CL and B-18251, were retired in December 2014, while an Airbus A340-300, in particular B-18801, was retired in March 2015.[35] However, due to falling oil prices, the carrier is considering postponing the 747 retirement plan in favor of increasing the frequencies of its North American, Beijing and Shanghai routes with the quad-engine aircraft type. [29]