Xiamen Airlines (MF, Xiamen) has reportedly committed to an additional four B787-8s from Boeing (BOE, Washington National) as it gears up for international expansion. Quoting local media sources, China's WCARN says the carrier is also in talks with the US manufacturer to acquire ten more.
Though the report did not indicate which variant of the B787 Xiamen is planning to order, manager of flight planning, Ding Chunling, earlier this year indicated Xiamen's preference for the B787-9 given its added range and capacity over the five B787-8s it currently operates.
With its first longhaul flight - Xiamen-Amsterdam Schiphol - set to launch on Friday, July 26, the carrier has alluded to plans to begin flights to Australia in October this year with Melbourne Tullamarine and Sydney Kingsford Smith currently under consideration. Expansion into North America is also on the cards with Seattle Tacoma International, San Francisco, Los Angeles International, and Vancouver International all possibilities.
