China's long-awaited and highly politicised deal for new Boeing aircraft has finally been signed in Washington, covering the purchase of up to 50 widebody and narrowbody passenger jet aircraft, worth $3 billion.
The deal, as expected, was announced on 30 October during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's state visit to the USA. Because of the highly political nature of the deal, Boeing has released purely outline details, confirming only that there is a "firm commitment" for 36 737s, one 747, five 757s and eight 777s to be delivered over three years beginning in late 1998.
Boeing has heralded the deal as the largest yet placed by China, but it is understood from sources in Beijing that it includes about 20 options, while some of the firm orders are in fact confirmations of previously placed options.
The 36 737s are a mix of second-generation -300/400s and new third-generation -700/800s, of which at least five are firm orders for Air China (Flight International, 15-21 October, P6). The bulk of the options are also likely to go the carrier, which has issued competing vendors with a request for tenders covering a total of 20 aircraft.
Air China also is to receive a second batch of five 777-200IGWs, which were held over from an earlier order for five Pratt & Whitney PW4077-powered -200 twinjets announced in March. As China's only 747 operator, Air China will almost certainly be the recipient of the single -400 order. Boeing sales figures indicate that this has been held over from previously announced purchases over the last year for five 747-400s, including two Combis.
Officials suggest that the three remaining 777s ordered are destined for China Southern Airlines. The Guangzhou-based carrier has been given final approval to take three new -200IGWs from International Lease Finance.
The first is due for delivery before the end of the year and the other two in 1998, supplementing four existing GE90-powered 777-200s and two 200IGWs.
Local sources say that three of the 757-200s ordered will go to Xinjiang Airlines and another two to China Southwest Airlines, which already operates 11 of the type.
Source: Flight International
