China Airlines to buy 20 Airbus'

Photo: China Airlines to buy 20 Airbus'

China Airlines to buy 20 Airbus'

Airbus announced Tuesday that Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd. would buy 14 Airbus A350 wide-bodied planes and had signed an option for an additional six.

Taiwan's largest carrier signed a letter of intent for the purchase of up to 20 A350-900 jets, which it intends to start using from 2015.

The order follows Libyan Airlines' firm order for 15 Airbus jets on Monday, including four A350-800s.

Powered with Rolls-Royce Trent 1883 engines, China Airlines will use the planes mainly on its long-haul routes to Europe, Australia and the United States.

Airbus was forced into a costly redesign of its A350 wide-bodied plane, competitor to Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner, which won't enter service until 2013.

In a separate announcement, Airbus said Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed firm contracts for 22 A320 single-aisle jets. The contract follows the signature of a memorandum of understanding for the aircraft during the Dubai Air Show in November.