777-300 Extended Range (ER) aircraft

China Eastern Airlines has agreed to purchase 20 777-300 Extended Range (ER) aircraft from Boeing, subject to Chinese Government approval.

The agreement is part of the airline’s plans to expand its fleet capacity to meet the rising travel demand in Asia-Pacific and China, which is an active market for commercial airplanes.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of sales and marketing for Greater China and Korea, Ihssane Mounir, said: "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."

Final selling price for the aircraft has not been disclosed, however, it is believed that the total value of the deal could amount to $5.97bn, as the list price of the ER model is $298.3m.

Belonging to Boeing’s 777 family of aircraft, the 777-300ER is a twin-engine, long-haul airplane that can carry 365 passengers up to 7,930nm (14,685km).

The company incorporated several performance enhancements for the 777-300ER that include extended range and enhanced payload capabilities, as well as improvements and design changes to reduce drag and airplane weight.

Boeing said that it will support China Eastern Airlines in obtaining the purchase approval and after receiving acceptance the order will be posted.

In March 2012, China Eastern Airlines swapped its earlier order placed with Boeing for 24 787 Dreamliners with a new order for 45 single-aisle 737 aircraft.

The airlines had also ordered 15 Airbus 330 wide-body aircraft comprising of 12 A330-200s and three A330-300s for $2.5bn and the resale of five A340 aircraft.

 

Image: Boeing 777 jetliner fleet has completed its one millionth flight under regulations for extended operations (ETOPS). Photo: The Boeing Company.