China Eastern signs massive Airbus order

China Eastern Airlines signed an agreement with Airbus on Wednesday (25 March) to buy ​101 A320neo aircraft in a deal worth about $15.8 ‌billion at list prices, according to a company filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the ​company in batches from 2028 to 2032, the ​filing showed. Several Chinese carriers including Spring Airlines and ⁠Juneyao Airlines revealed plans in December to buy A320neo ​jets as the major European aerospace company works to expand ​its share in the world’s second-largest aviation market, according to press reports. China Eastern Airlines said the new jets will replace and update its existing fleet and expand ​future capacity, boosting aircraft efficiency, cutting fuel use and ​operating costs, according to the filing. The airline had in 2022 signed an agreement ‌to ⁠buy 100 A320neo jets, which were planned to be delivered in batches from 2024 to 2027. In 2024, China Eastern introduced 35 new aircraft to its fleet, including Chinese planemaker ​COMAC’s C919 ​and those from ⁠the A320neo family and Boeing’s B787 series, the company’s annual report showed. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]