China Airlines
has announced it will retrofit its Airbus A350 fleet with upgraded cabins, which is expected to include a new business class suite product. The first revamped A350 is due to enter service in 2027 and will also offer new inflight entertainment (IFE) systems and upgraded inflight connectivity (IFC).
China Airlines reveals A350 cabin retrofits
As reported by FlightGlobal, the Taiwanese airline has firmed up a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus to retrofit its 15 Airbus A350-900s with significant upgrades across all three cabins. While it did not confirm specific details, this is expected to include new business suites complete with privacy doors – the carrier stated that the new cabins will offer “the same Oriental aesthetic” as its current cabins, which feature cultural and literary elements alongside a trademark persimmon woodgrain finish.
Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying
The revamp will also involve an overhaul of the IFE system and “onboard network,” which is likely to include a much-improved Wi-Fi capability. The airline’s current A350 layout features three cabin classes and a total of 306 seats, with 32 in business, 31 in premium economy and 243 in economy.
China Airlines and Airbus announced the LOI at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in May, with the cost of the project estimated at around $400 million. With the first retrofitted widebody due to re-enter service in 2027, the airline expects all 15 of its A350 fleet to be transformed by the end of 2028.
Related
Which Airline Has The Best Airbus A350 Cabin?
We took a look at the Air India A350 cabin today, although that’s not really the true flavor of what the airline has in store for its long-haul flyers. The cabin was inherited from the original purchaser of that particular A350 – Aeroflot – so we still have to wait to see AI’s flagship new cabin for ourselves. But the industry has seen a great deal of innovation in A350 cabin configurations, particularly the A350-1000, which gives them even more space to play with. Asking who does it best is something of a personal preference, but for me, Virgin Atlantic’s take on the XWB is incredible. The new Upper Class that debuted on that plane is exceptional, and the playful use of the space by the boarding doors (aka ‘The Loft’) is very interesting. Throughout the cabin classes, the airline made things better for its passengers with bigger screens, new materials, and improved comfort levels. What’s your favorite A350 cabin? Let us know in the comments!
The announcement follows Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific’s new ‘Aria Suite’ product debuting this year, as well as Singapore Airlines’ A350 $835 million retrofit program involving 41 of its A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range (ULR) planes. With more and more airlines opting for suite-style business cabins, Airbus says the A350 can accommodate four enclosed suites per row in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access.
An A350 operator for over eight years
China Airlines took delivery of its first A350 in September 2016 and had four airframes by the end of that year. By late 2018, its fleet had grown to 14 A350s, and the carrier leased another former-SAS plane in early 2024 to increase its fleet to 15 aircraft. According to data from Cirium, the carrier’s A350 fleet will serve almost 20 destinations this month – the widebodies are deployed on several Asian and Oceania routes, as well as long-haul services to North America and Europe.
Photo: Simon Tang | Shutterstock
Airbus expects demand for A350 cabin retrofits to remain high – since the first A350 entered service in 2014, there have been over 600 aircraft deliveries, with many of these planes now approaching the eight-year mark, typically when they are considered for cabin retrofits. By 2028, there will be around 390 A350s that will have reached this age.
Photo: Airbus
China Airlines is investing heavily in modernizing its long-haul fleet and will reportedly split an upcoming widebody order between Airbus and Boeing. The airline is slated to split an order for 20 aircraft between Boeing’s 777X and the A350-1000, with the overall cost of the deal estimated at around $4 billion.
