HONG KONG--Air China Ltd. (0753.HK) Friday signed an agreement
to buy a total of 31 passenger aircraft and freighters from Boeing
Co. (BA) with a combined list price of $4.83 billion, as it seeks
to expand capacity and improve efficiency.
The Chinese flag carrier said in a statement that it ordered 20
Boeing 737-800 aircraft, two Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft
and one Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery
from 2014 to 2015.
Air China's 51%-owned unit Air China Cargo Co. has also ordered
eight Boeing 777 freighters, which will be delivered between 2013
and 2015, it added.
The Chinese carrier didn't disclose the purchase prices but said
Boeing had granted it "significant price concessions." Airlines
usually receive discounts for large orders.
Once all the Boeing aircraft have been delivered, the carrier's
available ton kilometers--a measure of capacity--will increase by
18.7% from the end of December 2012, it said.
Write to Joanne Chiu at joanne.chiu@wsj.com
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