China Eastern Airlines has disclosed plans to acquire 25 Airbus A330neo aircraft, in what would become the largest commitment for the widebody by a Chinese airline.
The carrier said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange that it signed a purchase agreement with Airbus in Shanghai. The aircraft are valued at about $9.35 billion at January 2025 list prices, although China Eastern said the actual transaction price would be lower.
Deliveries are planned in batches between 2029 and 2033.
China Eastern said the aircraft would be used mainly from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to add long-haul routes and increase frequencies on international services.
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The A330neo has so far had limited sales in China. Hainan Airlines appears in Airbus data with one aircraft on order and two in service, likely through leasing arrangements.
China Eastern expects to retire at least 10 older A330 aircraft during the delivery period, meaning part of the new fleet would replace aging jets and part would add capacity for international operations.
The A330neo is the latest version of Airbus' twin-aisle family. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and has aerodynamic changes compared with earlier A330 models.
The disclosure follows China Eastern's separate plan to acquire 101 A320neo-family aircraft, announced in March.
