China Eastern secures long-haul future with latest jets
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China Eastern Airlines has placed orders for two of the world’s most modern jets as it moves to expand its long-haul network.
The Shanghai-based carrier has agreed to purchase 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and 20 Airbus A350-900s, valued at approximately US$10 billion at current list prices.
China Eastern said the new twin-aisle jets would enable it to add more flights to destinations in Europe and North America.
“The addition of these next-generation, fuel-efficient airplanes will play a key role in supporting China Eastern’s strategy for international expansion, and enable us to realise profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific Ocean, and between China and Europe,” said China Eastern’s chairman, Liu Shaoyong.
China Eastern revealed that it would use the Dreamliners to increase the frequency of its flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Toronto, as well on the recently-launched service to Chicago. These routes are currently operated by the airline’s B777-300ERs.
The A350 routes have not been confirmed, but they are likely to be similar to the B787s, flying to North America, Europe or Oceania.
The two deals mark the first time China Eastern has ordered either the A350 or the Dreamliner. The Shanghai-based airline becomes only the second mainland Chinese carrier to purchase the A350, following Air China which has ordered 10 A350-900s. Four other Chinese airlines have placed orders for the B787: China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Air China.
In addition to the B787-9s and A350s, China Eastern has outstanding orders for 11 more B777-300ERs (taking its total fleet to 20). Both the A350s and B787s will be delivered to China Eastern over the course of three to four years, starting in 2018.
The cabin configuration of China Eastern’s new Dreamliners and A350s has not been revealed, but both aircraft typically seats around 300 passengers.
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