China Eastern to Buy 101 Airbus Jets in $16 Billion Deal
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A China Eastern Airlines passenger plane parked on the airport tarmac. Photo: VCG
China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. has agreed to buy 101 Airbus SE jets, a deal with a catalog value of nearly $16 billion, extending a run of big-ticket Airbus orders by major Chinese carriers.
In a stock exchange filing late Wednesday, the Shanghai-listed airline said it ordered 101 aircraft from the A320neo family, including A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR models. Deliveries are scheduled in batches from 2028 to 2032.
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- China Eastern Airlines ordered 101 Airbus A320neo family jets worth about $15.8 billion at list price, with deliveries from 2028–2032 and substantial price concessions.
- The deal aims to replace at least 53 older planes, increase seat capacity, cut fuel burn, and lower operating costs.
- Chinese airlines have favored Airbus over Boeing in recent years, with other major narrowbody orders and a global order backlog now exceeding 17,000 aircraft.
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Who’s Who
- China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd.
- China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. (中國東方航空股份有限公司) has agreed to purchase 101 Airbus SE jets from the A320neo family, valued at nearly $16 billion before concessions. Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2032. This acquisition aims to replace older aircraft, boost capacity, improve fuel efficiency, and lower operating costs, continuing a trend of major Chinese carriers favoring Airbus.
- Airbus SE
- Airbus SE is a European aircraft manufacturer. China Eastern Airlines recently ordered 101 A320neo family jets from Airbus, valued at nearly $16 billion. This order highlights Airbus's strong presence in the Chinese market, as Chinese state-owned airlines have increasingly favored the European manufacturer for large aircraft purchases in recent years.
- Boeing Co.
- Boeing Co. has seen a significant decline in major publicly announced orders from Chinese carriers since 2017. This contrasts with Airbus's recent success in China, where state-owned airlines have increasingly favored the European manufacturer for large purchases, amid heightened geopolitical frictions.
- Air China Ltd.
- Air China Ltd. ordered 60 A320neo-family jets in December 2025. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2032. This purchase is part of a trend where major Chinese carriers are increasingly favoring Airbus for their aircraft orders.
- Juneyao Airlines Co. Ltd.
- Juneyao Airlines Co. Ltd. recently ordered 25 A320neo jets. This decision aligns with a broader trend among Chinese carriers to prioritize narrowbody aircraft for fleet renewal and fuel efficiency.
- Spring Airlines Co. Ltd.
- Spring Airlines Co. Ltd. recently ordered 30 A320neo jets. This order is part of a broader trend among Chinese carriers to prioritize narrowbody aircraft for fleet renewal and fuel efficiency.
- International Air Transport Association
- The article mentions the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported in late 2025 that the aviation industry's order backlog exceeded 17,000 aircraft. This figure represents nearly 60% of the active global fleet and roughly 12 years of production capacity, highlighting the significant demand amidst supply constraints.
- Cirium
- Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, reported that narrowbody models constituted over 90% of the 239 aircraft delivered to Chinese airlines in 2025. They also suggest that the timing of recent orders by Chinese carriers might be connected to diplomatic exchanges between Chinese and European leaders.
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What Happened When
- Late Wednesday (unspecified, context implies before June 2024)：
- China Eastern Airlines announced in a stock exchange filing the order of 101 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft.
- 2025：
- Cirium said more than 90% of the 239 aircraft delivered to Chinese airlines in 2025 were narrowbody models.
- December 2025：
- Air China Ltd. announced it would buy 60 A320neo-family jets for delivery between 2028 and 2032.
- December 2025：
- Juneyao Airlines Co. Ltd. and Spring Airlines Co. Ltd. ordered 25 and 30 A320neo jets, respectively.
- Late 2025：
- The International Air Transport Association said the global aircraft industry’s order backlog surpassed 17,000 aircraft.
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