Juneyao Airlines (Shanghai Hongqiao) has signed a firm order agreement with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for five B787-9s with options for an additional five of the same type. The purchase represents the carrier's first widebody order.

Of the firm-ordered aircraft, three are due in 2018 with two due in 2019. Of the options, one is available to deliver in 2019, the other four in 2020.

"Our strategic vision is to develop into an international airline that provides high quality service with an extended network, while ensuring excellent profitability," Wang Junjin, Chairman, Juneyao Airlines, said in a statement. "Today's order is set to play a key role in our growing business in the years to come, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Boeing into the future."

Juneyao Airlines started operations in 2006. It currently operates a fleet of forty-one A320-200s and eighteen A321-200s on domestic Chinese routes and short-haul international flights to neighboring countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. The carrier plans to open new routes to North America, Europe, and Australia by 2020.