Chinese carrier orders Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in first wide-body aircraft deal

Juneyao Airlines, which has only been operating for 10 years, will buy five of the twin-aisle jetliners to expand into North America, Europe and Australia.

Passengers board an Airbus A320 jet plane of Juneyao Airlines at the Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Changsha city, central Chinas Hunan province. The carrier is to buy Dreamliners. Wang Qian.Show less

China’s Juneyao Airlines has finalised a US$1.32 billion order for five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, part of a plan for new routes to North America, Europe and Australia over the next four years.

The order represents the airline’s first Boeing purchase and its first for wide-body aircraft, the companies said. Juneyao has an option for five more Dreamliners.

The Shanghai-based privately owned company, which first flew in 2006, is one of several Chinese carriers aiming to expand internationally as growth in the country’s outbound tourism market outpaces domestic tourism.

Juneyao currently operates domestic routes or short-haul international flights to neighbouring countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand. It agreed to join global airline alliance group Star Alliance as a “connecting partner” last October.

* Reuters

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