China Airlines selects Airbus for A350 landing gear maintenance

The Taiwanese flag carrier has signed a long-term agreement with the aircraft manufacturer to provide dedicated overhaul services for the landing gear systems on its A350-900 long-haul fleet. This agreement reflects the increasing trend of Asia-Pacific carriers opting for OEM-led lifecycle support rather than independent component shops. By leveraging the manufacturer’s internal Part-145 capabilities, China Airlines ensures access to a dedicated pool of rotables and specialized tooling required for the A350's complex hydraulic and structural assemblies. This strategy minimizes AOG risks during heavy maintenance checks, as the airline can swap entire landing gear sets rather than waiting for lengthy shop turnaround times. Furthermore, the partnership strengthens the airline’s technical resilience in a region where widebody capacity is rapidly rebounding. The integration of predictive data from the manufacturer allows the carrier to anticipate component fatigue before failure occurs, optimizing the scheduled shop visits at its primary maintenance base in Taoyuan. As the airline matures its long-range fleet, moving toward integrated service packages highlights a preference for guaranteed availability over the lower upfront costs of third-party transactional repairs. Signals: The volume of A350 landing gear overhaul slots reserved at the manufacturer’s specialized facilities over the next three fiscal years.