TransAsia Airways announced Tuesday that it has ordered eight new planes -- two Airbus A330-300s and six A321-200s -- to meet cross-Taiwan Strait air travel demand and sharpen its long-term competitiveness. According to the Taipei-based carrier, delivery of the 313-seat A330-300s is set for between Q4 2012 and Q1 2013. The aircraft will be used to fly direct medium- or long-haul routes between Taipei and other major cities in Asia. Meanwhile, the six 182-seat A321-200s are scheduled to be delivered between 2014 and 2016, and will give the airline a boost to its cross-strait and international flights. The carrier at present operates a fleet of 16 aircraft -- two A320s, five A321s and nine ATR 72 twin turboprops. The carrier offers 32 flights per week to a number of destinations in China, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Changsha and Wuhan. The company, capitalized at NT$4.8 billion (US$158.4 million) , said it is planning to open new flights to Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, early next month. In addition to the Chinese cities, it also offers 48 flights per week to three other destinations in Asia -- Macau and South Korea's Busan and Jeju. It also operates over 100 domestic flights each week. 