AviationNews – [Liebherr-Aerospace] and Taiwanese carrier [China Airlines] have finalised a major commercial maintenance agreement covering the nose landing gear overhaul of the airline’s [Airbus A350] fleet. The landmark deal establishes the Taiwanese carrier as the original equipment manufacturer’s premier launch customer in Asia for this widebody servicing programme.
Under the long-term contract signed in September 2026, [Liebherr-Aerospace] will execute comprehensive inspection, maintenance, and asset exchange services across China Airlines’ entire operational fleet of 18 [Airbus A350] aircraft. Scheduled to begin immediately in 2026, the overhaul campaign will span five years and continue through 2031, reinforcing Liebherr’s regional footprint across the Asia-Pacific aviation sector.
The programme incorporates an OEM asset-exchange model designed to bypass prolonged operational downtime. Rather than grounding aircraft while components undergo standard heavy shop visits, China Airlines can install pre-overhauled, certified assemblies directly from Liebherr’s pool. The entire nose gear assembly was originally engineered, manufactured, and certified at Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH in Germany, ensuring that all replacement parts and structural refurbishments adhere strictly to factory-level engineering tolerances and flight-safety benchmarks.
“China Airlines is our launch customer in Asia for the A350 nose landing gear overhaul program,” stated Joël Cadaux, General Manager Aerospace at Liebherr-Singapore Pte Ltd. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to operational excellence and long-term partnership. By providing a comprehensive landing gear exchange solution, we are helping China Airlines to maximize fleet availability while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.”
As widebody fleets delivered in the mid-2010s reach their scheduled major component inspection intervals, airlines across East Asia are increasingly securing dedicated OEM support to insulate their schedules against supply chain bottlenecks. The agreement sets a standard for regional carriers aiming to safeguard long-haul dispatch reliability while delegating complex assembly maintenance to specialized component manufacturers.
This overhaul pact solidifies the technical ties between both aerospace entities while bolstering airline maintenance operations throughout Taiwan and the broader Pacific Rim. By integrating turnkey exchange options, China Airlines ensures seamless deployment for its flagship long-haul services through the end of the decade.
