China Eastern Airlines Corp, the nation's third-largest carrier,
is in talks with Airbus SAS and Boeing Co to buy planes as travel
demand grows in the world's second-largest aviation market.
China Eastern may buy either Airbus A320s or Boeing 737s,
President Cao Jianxiong said yesterday in Singapore, Bloomberg News
reported. Both are single-aisle aircraft.
Carriers in China are ordering more planes as economic growth
boosts travel demand in the world's most populous country. Chinese
airlines may fly 210 million passengers in 2008, compared with an
expected 185 million last year, the aviation regulator said.
"We are looking to expand because of the Beijing Olympics this
year," Cao said.
The planes will be used on both the airline's local and
international routes.
(Shanghai Daily February 21, 2008)
