Taiwanese media this week reports that the new China Airlines CEO Kuo-Shuai Chao announced a major turning point to the airlines' fleet.

 During the press conference of signing the firm contract of up to 20 A350-900XWB, the CEO says his airline will retire 11 737-800s and transfer them to subsidiary Mandarin Airlines.

China Airlines will be wide-body operator only once it finishes the transfer.

 Meanwhile, the amount of deposit paid to Airbus was also the main focus during the press conference as China Airlines paid 3%, which media claims industry standard is 1%.  The CEO says if it doesn't pay 3%, it'll lose A350-900XWB production slot till 2020.  However, an internal memo leaked in September 2007, claims the 787-9 is far more superior and more suitable to China Airlines' network.