Order Would Be Worth $4.6 Billion At List Prices

China's Shandong Airline says it has signed an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of up to 50 single-aisle airliners, including 16 737-800s and 34 737 MAX airplanes.

The French news service AFP reports that Shandong, which is one of China's smaller carriers, announced the agreement Monday.

The deal would mark a win for Boeing in China, which is seeing rapid growth in air travel and airliner purchases. A recent Boeing forecast indicted that China's airline fleet is expected to triple in the next 20 years.

China's Xinhua news agency reported that Shandong already operates 67 737s, and plans to grow its fleet to more than 140 aircraft by the end of 2020. The airline said in a statement that it expects to take delivery of the airplanes "in batches" between 2016 and 2020.

“Our enduring partnership with Shandong Airlines goes back to the carrier’s beginning and we are proud the 737 has been part of their success,” said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are pleased to see the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX continue to support Shandong Airlines’ growth.”

The order will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

(737 MAX pictured in artists' rendering)

FMI: www.boeing.com