Boeing inks US$4B deal with China’s Donghai Airlines
by The Associated Press
Aerospace company to build 30 new aircraft, including five 787 Dreamliners for Shenzhen-based airline working to expand its network in southern China
The multibillion-dollar deal includes the sale of 25 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and five 787-9 Dreamliners. PHOTO Boeing
FARNBOROUGH, U.K.—China’s Donghai Airlines and Boeing have announced that the airline intends to purchase 25 737 MAX 8s and five 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal valued at more than $4 billion at list prices.
In a deal announced July 11 at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines says its fleet expansion will help satisfy the growing travel market and help build its home base as the transportation hub in southern China.
Donghai is converting its business model from cargo services to passenger services and has already order 15 Next-Generation 737-800s and 10 737 MAX 8s in 2013.
Wong Cho-Bau, the chairman of the airline, says it is “committed to introducing new next-generation airplanes that deliver the industry-leading fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.”
Donghai Airlines currently has a fleet of 11 Boeing 737-800s serving for more than 10 cities across China.
The deal is the first major agreement announced at one of the aviation industry’s biggest shows. Agreements at the biennial air shows in Paris and Farnborough often account for a significant portion of the year’s aircraft orders. Last year in Paris Airbus and Boeing sold more than 750 planes.
