China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao) has ordered 100 C919 narrowbody jets directly from state-owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC (Shanghai Pudong), with deliveries expected to begin in 2024 and continue through 2031. The commitment is the largest single order ever for the type.
According to the Chinese carrier's stock market filing, the first five aircraft will be delivered in 2024, followed by ten per year between 2025 and 2027. In 2028, 2029, and 2030, the airline anticipates taking fifteen aircraft a year, with the final twenty units scheduled for 2031.
"During the delivery period, a large number of the company's existing narrowbody passenger aircraft will be gradually withdrawn from the fleet due to their age and lease expiration," the airline said.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that China Eastern Airlines currently operates two C919s as the type's launch - and still the only active - customer. It expects to take a further three units from its previous order by the end of 2023.
The airline's Western-built narrowbody fleet comprises thirty-five A319-100s, 166 A320-200s, 104 A320-200Ns, seventy-seven A321-200s, thirty-seven B737-700s, three B737-8s, and 102 B737-800s.
