China Eastern Airlines has terminated an order of 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets due to delivery delays.

In place of the cancelled orders, the airline has signed a $3.3bn agreement with Boeing for 45 smaller 737 NG model aircraft.

The planes will be delivered from 2014 through 2016.

Boeing said the 24 cancelled aircraft were part of a 2005 agreement with the Chinese Government for the purchase of 60 Dreamliners.

In addition, China Eastern is planning to buy 15 Airbus A330 series aircraft from European Aeronautic Defence & Space with a order value of $3bn.