China Eastern Airlines Ordering 20 Boeing 777s, Spurns Airbus?-UPDATE

Boeing 777 (click to enlarge)

UPDATE – April 27, 2012:

Boeing made the following statement on China Eastern’s order of 20 777s:

“China Eastern Airlines is a long-term valued customer of The Boeing Company. We are delighted that China Eastern has decided to add the 777-300ER to its expanding fleet,” said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Greater China and Korea, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This additional commitment from one of the largest airlines in the world is a testament to the benefits the 777-300ER brings to the airline and its passengers.”

China Eastern Airlines is set to place an order for 20 Boeing 777 wide-body jets according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.

The value of the deal is roughly $6 billion and brings in to question if China Eastern will follow through on the deal they reached with Airbus last October for 15 A330s.

That order has been stalled because of the standoff between the Chinese government and the European Union (EU) over its carbon trading tax scheme.

This is a good rebound for Boeing as China Eastern cancelled an order for 24 787 Dreamliners last month over numerous production delays.

Officials from China Eastern, Boeing and Airbus have not commented on the report.

We will update this story as we find out more…

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Image Courtesy of Boeing