China Eastern Airlines Secures Landmark Deal: China Eastern Airlines has said that it wants to buy 100 C919 planes from the well-known Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) to add to its fleet. This is a huge step that will change the face of flying. Based on list prices, this historic deal, worth a staggering $10 billion, casts an unbreakable shadow over previous records and writes its place in the history of aerospace.
Its government-owned behemoth has surprised everyone by getting a big discount on its mind-blowing fleet growth. This strategic purchase will happen over a long period, from 2024 to 2031, when the C919 fleet spreads its wings through a carefully timed run of deliveries.
The official cost of each C919 is now around $99 million. Still, it is essential to remember that the complicated nature of the aircraft industry allows for big discounts, sometimes as high as 50%, especially for new models that are just starting to compete.
Only five months have passed since the C919’s first flight. It is a COMAC-made gem ready to take on the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX in the single-aisle aircraft market. This significant deal from the past casts a beautiful shadow in the sky. This critical flight, which showed how good Chinese pilots are, took off on time in May with China Eastern Airlines for the first time.
China Eastern Airlines is leading the way for the C919 because it has already bought five. Three of them are happily part of their fleet, and the other two look forward to joining them later this year. The company shows that it has big plans far beyond this latest success.
On the other hand, Boeing has been at a stop for a long time. It is stuck in a web of problems that has kept it from returning its old Boeing 737 MAX for more than four years.
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After the sad possibility of two fatal crashes, this tumultuous pause happened. Since 2017, Chinese airlines have not placed any new orders. The main reason is that diplomatic and trade tensions between Beijing and Washington are worsening.
Li Hanming is an innovative, independent expert in the aviation business who can figure out how this vital agreement is put together. He clarifies that this critical news comes on the same day the C919 type certificate has been in effect for a year. It is more than just a symbol; it represents a time when COMAC would get closer to China Eastern and set itself up as a leader in reliability and performance for possible C919 followers.
This big buy gives China Eastern Airlines’ fleet a new lease on life at a time when the aviation industry is booming again after being held back for three years by COVID-19 rules. The carrier also has to deal with the unstoppable march of time, which has caused many of its older narrow-body planes to be taken out of service.
China Eastern’s robust financial system will pay for this purchase by carefully mixing internal funds, bank loans, and bond sales. This will ensure a good balance of financial prudence in this high-stakes venture.
The plan for this deal is well thought out. In 2024, China Eastern will get five C919 planes, setting the pace for the next ten years. From 2025 to 2027, ten C919s will be given away yearly in a ceremony. Then, from 2028 to 2030, 15 C919s will arrive each year, and in 2031, 20 planes will come all at once.
Brunei’s new airline, GallopAir, plans to buy 30 planes from China in a deal worth $2 billion. This is a perfect example of how China’s flying skills are becoming more popular worldwide. This big deal includes 15 orders for COMAC’s ARJ21 planes and 15 for the high-quality C919 planes.
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China Eastern, a Chinese airline, has received an average rating of 6.9/10 from frequent travelers. While this falls below the general average, it’s worth noting that the rating has been trending upwards over the past 12 months.
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Our parent company, CEA Holding, was formed on October 11, 2002 through the merger of Eastern Air Group Company, China Northwest Airlines Company, and Yunnan Airlines Company. As an expert in the aviation industry, we are proud to be a part of this successful merger and continue to provide exceptional service to our customers.
Who is China Eastern Airlines partners with?
SkyTeam is a global airline alliance that boasts an impressive roster of members. Among them are China Eastern Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, China Airlines, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Air, and ITA. With such a diverse group of airlines, SkyTeam offers travelers a wide range of destinations and flight options.
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