Taiwan's leading carrier China Airlines said Tuesday it will lease four Boeing 777-300ERs as it seeks to build a more fuel-efficient fleet and lower the cost of its long-haul flights. The airline said it had agreed to lease the passenger planes from US firm GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd and the aircraft were set to be delivered from 2014. "To airlines, the use of fuel in a more efficient manner has become a key factor in keeping them profitable," China Airlines said in a statement.

"Since the 777-300ER is known for its fuel efficiency, the introduction of the four planes is expected to lower the cost of long-haul flights." The company's board earlier this month approved the purchase of six 777-300Ers. Details of the deal have not been released. The 777-300ERs will replace the airline's fuel-hungry Boeing 747-400s which are due to be taken out of service no later than 2015, company president Sun Huang-hsiang previously told the Economic Daily newspaper. China Airlines posted a net profit of TW$384 million ($13.24 million) in the nine months to September. Founded in 1959, China Airlines operates a fleet of 68 aircraft and flies to 80 destinations in 28 countries.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012