TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China Airlines (CAL) will take delivery of five Airbus A321neo and three Boeing 777F freighter aircraft this year, reports said Wednesday (March 27).

The new planes are set to replace the Boeing 737-800, CAL President Kao Shing-hwang (高星潢) told a news conference. As to new routes, he said services to Seattle would start mid-July, while others were still being planned, per CNA.

After focusing on European destinations for the past few years, the United States would become a priority, he said. While Delta Air Lines and Starlux Airlines also operate direct flights between Taiwan and Seattle, the competition would not markedly influence fares, Kao said.

Apart from new routes, CAL will also consider adding extra flights to existing destinations based on demand. Kao named Frankfurt, Germany, as an example of an airport with strong demand from numerous commercial clientele.