China Eastern Airlines Orders 25 Airbus A330neo Widebody Jets
Quick Look
- China Eastern Airlines has ordered 25 Airbus A330neo widebody jets, marking Airbus's first major long-haul order from a Chinese carrier since last year.
- The deal, valued at an estimated US$9.35 billion before discounts, aims to reduce fuel costs and expand the airline's international network, pending Chinese authority approval for deliveries between 2029 and 2033.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
China has favored Airbus, with previous orders from major Chinese airlines being for narrowbody jets. This order marks Airbus's first major long-haul order from a Chinese carrier since last year.
China Eastern Airlines has ordered 25 A330neo widebody jets from Airbus, marking the planemaker’s first major long-haul order from a Chinese carrier since last year, as the nation continues to favour the European manufacturer.
The list price of the 25 aircraft is about US$9.35 billion, but China Eastern said in a statement on Friday that it had obtained a “substantial price discount” from Airbus, making the actual cost significantly less than the catalogue price.
The Shanghai-based carrier expects the fuel-efficient jets to reduce fuel costs and support carbon-neutrality goals while expanding its international network.
Sizeable discounts are common on big orders in the industry.
China Eastern said the agreement was pending approval from Chinese authorities, with deliveries to the carrier scheduled for between 2029 and 2033.
While major Chinese airlines have placed orders for hundreds of Airbus aircraft since last year, those deals were all for the manufacturer’s narrowbody jets.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Chinese authorities will approve the agreement.
Very likely · Within months
China Eastern will receive deliveries of A330neo jets.
Very likely · Within years
Open Questions
- What was the exact "substantial price discount"?
- What specific international routes will be expanded?
