Aircraft
China Eastern Swaps 787 Order for 737s
China Eastern cancels 787 order
Part of a block order by Chinese airlines for 60 Dreamliners, China Eastern’s order for 24 of the airplanes will no longer appear on Boeing’s books. (Photo: Boeing)
Part of a block order by Chinese airlines for 60 Dreamliners, China Eastern’s order for 24 of the airplanes will no longer appear on Boeing’s books. (Photo: Boeing)

Stung by development delays and now intent on shifting its emphasis from long-haul to regional and domestic services, China Eastern Airlines on October 17 announced a decision to cancel orders for 24 Boeing 787s in favor of a new order for 45 Boeing 737NGs. Still subject to Chinese government approval, the substitution would result in the cancellation of delivery of 15 Dreamliners to China Eastern and nine to subsidiary Shanghai Airlines.

The value of the new deal for 737s, estimated at $3.3 billion based on 2008 catalog prices, “is comparable” to the value of the Dreamliner order, said China Eastern in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. China Eastern said it expects delivery of the new 737s “in stages” between 2014 and 2016.