At a legislative session on Wednesday, KMT Legislator Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) questioned China Airlines (CAL) Chairman Hsieh Shih-chien (謝世謙), about the shift from an Airbus-dominated fleet to increased Boeing acquisitions.
CAL is under scrutiny following reports of significant aircraft purchases, sparking claims of political influence. In 2022, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham stated that Taiwan had been urged to buy 16 Boeing 787-9 aircraft for NT$140 billion (US$4.33 billion) after his visit. By 2023, CAL increased its order to 24 Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 planes, valued at NT$230 billion (US$7.12 billion). Recent reports suggest an additional NT$130 billion (US$4.02 billion) purchase of 20 long-haul planes split between the U.S. Boeing and French Airbus aircraft, prompting accusations of yielding to U.S. pressure.
Legislator Huang questioned the basis for this decision, pointing out Boeing's recent controversies, compatibility issues between Boeing and Airbus systems, and the retraining required for pilots. He asked if political factors influenced the decision.
Hsieh denied any political intervention. He says that when acquiring aircraft, CAL consults international advisory firms for evaluations. He says that CAL focuses on selecting the best models according to needs. Hsieh says the fleet currently includes more Airbus than Boeing planes, and that most airlines globally aim for a 50/50 balance.