China Airlines Boeing 787 Premium Economy Cabin Unveiled

China Airlines unveiled its new Premium Economy Class cabin for its upcoming Boeing 787 fleet at COMPUTEX 2026 on June 2, 2026, featuring an industry-first Bluetooth connectivity system for in-flight entertainment control.

The announcement, detailed in a company press release, marks a major product upgrade as the carrier prepares to induct 24 Boeing 787 aircraft. The new cabin design was presented by China Airlines Chairman Kao Shing-Hwang and President Kevin Chen at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall 2.

Cabin configuration and Recaro R4 integration

The Boeing 787 Premium Economy cabin will feature 28 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. The airline selected the Recaro R4 Premium Economy seat for the new fleet. According to industry reports, the seats are customized for China Airlines to include a six-way adjustable headrest, a leather footrest, and persimmon wood grain tray tables.

Passengers will have access to a 15.6-inch 4K high-definition personal entertainment display. The press release highlighted that the system includes a new Bluetooth connectivity feature allowing passengers to control the in-flight entertainment system directly from their personal smart devices.

Fleet modernization and delivery delays

China Airlines has ordered a total of 24 Boeing 787 aircraft, comprising 18 Boeing 787-9s and six Boeing 787-10s. These new widebody jets are intended to replace the airline’s aging Airbus A330 and Boeing 737-800 fleets. The first Boeing 787 is expected to enter service in June 2026.

The induction of the new aircraft has faced setbacks due to delivery delays from Boeing. In June 2025, Chairman Kao Shing-Hwang confirmed that the airline was forced to postpone the retirement of older aircraft. Kao noted that the delivery delays impacted fleet planning, requiring the carrier to extend the leases of several aircraft originally scheduled to be phased out.

AirPro News analysis

We view the integration of personal device control for in-flight entertainment as a logical progression in passenger experience. This approach reduces reliance on traditional wired handsets and touchscreens, which require frequent maintenance and add weight to the cabin. The choice to unveil this product at COMPUTEX, a major technology trade show, rather than a traditional aviation expo highlights the airline’s strategy to position its new cabin as a tech-forward product. However, the success of this rollout remains tethered to Boeing’s ability to resolve its delivery backlog and supply chain constraints.

Sources: China Airlines