China Eastern orders 25 Airbus A330neo jets for $9.35B

China Eastern Airlines announced on Friday that it will purchase 25 Airbus A330neo widebody jets at a catalogue price of approximately $9.35 billion, as the carrier moves to expand its long-haul international network out of Shanghai.

Expanding the Widebody Fleet

The airline disclosed the deal in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, stating that the two companies signed the purchase agreement in Shanghai on Friday. Deliveries are scheduled in batches from 2029 to 2033.933thedrive+2

"The transaction will be used for the company to supplement its future transport capacity and to replace and upgrade its existing aircraft models," the filing said, according to Reuters.reuters

The A330neo is an upgraded, fuel-efficient version of the previous-generation A330 long-haul jet, featuring high-aspect-ratio wings and improved aerodynamics. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.933thedrive

Shanghai Pudong as Long-Haul Hub

China Eastern said the widebody jets would primarily be deployed from Shanghai Pudong Airport to expand intercontinental destinations and increase flight frequencies, bolstering the hub's role as a transfer centre for long-haul routes. The carrier currently operates the world's longest commercial route — Shanghai to Auckland to Buenos Aires — and serves 249 international routes across 40 countries.aviationoutlook.substack+1

The airline said it plans to fund the purchase through a mix of its own capital, bank loans, bond issuances, and other financing instruments, adding that the phased payment structure was not expected to have a material impact on its cash flow or operations.933thedrive+1

A Pattern of Major Airbus Orders

The deal follows a $15.8 billion order China Eastern placed with Airbus in March for 101 A320neo-family narrowbody aircraft, with deliveries scheduled from 2028 to 2032. That earlier agreement, also disclosed via a Shanghai Stock Exchange filing, covered short- and medium-haul operations. Together, the two orders underscore China Eastern's deepening reliance on Airbus as it renews and expands its fleet across both narrowbody and widebody segments.aeromorning+1