China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao) has placed an order for seventy A320neo aircraft with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) valued at (RMB38.984billion) USD6.37billion. The order, the first of its type from a Chinese operator, will see the new jets delivered from 2018 to 2020 for use on short and medium haul routes, China Eastern said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing.
The airline also signed a separate deal with Airbus to sell back seven used A300-600 aircraft, set to be phased out from service this year.
China Eastern is a prolific Airbus operator with nearly the entire inventory in its fleet namely the A300, the A318-100, the A319-100, the A320, the A321, the A330 and the A340-600.
