Planemaker's Biggest Order Ever From A Chinese Carrier

China Eastern Airlines will buy 80 737s from Boeing, a deal reportedly worth over $8 billion.

In a statement posted on its website, Boeing said that China Eastern Airlines has committed to purchase 80 737s, including Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX airplanes. When finalized, the order will become China’s largest-ever purchase by an airline for single-aisle airplanes, worth more than $8 billion at current list prices.

“We look forward to making history with China Eastern as they are poised to make the largest purchase for single-aisle airplanes by a Chinese airline,” said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We share an enduring partnership with China Eastern and we are excited to see that the 737 family of airplanes will play an important role in their continued success.”

The order will be posted on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

Bloomberg reports that Boeing, which has forecast that China will need over 5,500 new airliners over the next 20 years, has not ruled out building a final assembly line in China in the future, though the company has no firm plans to do so at this time.

China Eastern said in a statement that it will be selling 20 older airplanes ... 15 737-300s and five 757s ... back to Boeing as part of the deal.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com