Commitments also include country's first deal for A380s
China gave Boeing a major boost last week when it confirmed the biggest deal so far for the 7E7 - now designated the 787 - as part of a major widebody aircraft buying spree. The commitments, which also include five Airbus A380s for China Southern Airlines and 20 A330-200s for Air China, come as the country's carriers seek to keep up with growth demands and introduce new aircraft ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
All the deals were expected - although some remain subject to final agreement - and they have come after lengthy lobbying by the airframe manufacturers.
The $7.2 billion 787 deal from China is for a group of Chinese airlines known to include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. The preliminary agreement with Boeing covering up to 60 787-8s was scheduled to be confirmed in Washington DC late last week at a signing ceremony involving the US assistant secretary of commerce Al Frink, Chinese ambassador to the USA Yang Jiechi, China Aviation Supplies president Li Hai and Boeing Commercial Airplanes president Alan Mulally. The deal will take firm orders and commitments to around 186 787s, excluding options.
The adoption of the 787 designation has been long expected, coming less than six months before the final design freeze of the first all-new Boeing commercial aircraft design to be launched since the 777, almost 15 years ago.
Airbus has been pushing particularly hard for an A380 order from China for years and has repeatedly said it hoped to have the aircraft flying with a major Chinese airline in time for the 2008 Olympics. While China Southern is to take the five purchased A380s from Airbus, Air China is also in talks to lease two A380s through International Lease Finance (Flight International, 25-31 January).
Air China's order for 20 A330-200s will, meanwhile, cover deliveries between the middle of 2006 and the end of 2008, and a memorandum of understanding was quietly signed last year. It will be the third A330 operator in China after China Southern and Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines. China Southern takes delivery of its first A330-200 this year, while China Eastern takes its first A330-300 next year.
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NICHOLAS IONIDES IN SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
