Chinese airline orders 110 Boeing jets

China Postal Airlines has signed with Boeing for 10 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters, although the programme has yet to be launched. She said the 737s China Postal is purchasing were passenger airplanes.

Boeing announced orders and commitments for 300 Boeing aircraft during Xi’s visit, as well a partnership with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) to open a China completion center for the delivery of Boeing 737 aircraft.

China Postal Airlines president Yufeng Li said: “This is a historic order both for China Postal and Boeing”.

The agreement also includes the purchase of seven Boeing 757-200s, which will be converted into freighters.

China Postal is the second carrier to sign for the 737 BCF programme, after Hangzhou-based YTO Airlines.

Boeing has chosen the 737-800 to be the first 737NG model it will offer for conversion.

“China’s rapidly growing aviation market plays a crucial role in our current and future success”, said Boeing chairman Jim McNerney at the time.

Boeing is battling with Airbus to win market share in China, which is forecast to become the world’s biggest market for air travel and passenger airplanes thanks to booming demand from China’s rising middle class. It is the fourth-largest airline in the world in domestic passenger traffic and the sixth-largest in scheduled domestic passenger-kilometres flown.

State-owned China Southern is the country’s biggest airline by passengers and fleet size.