China Eastern Airlines Corp placed a firm order for 20 Airbus SAS A320 aircraft worth as much as US$1.1 billion, part of a plan by the nation's third-biggest carrier to expand its fleet to 100 planes by 2005.
The purchase has received government approval, said Wang Zhi, an official at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, at the signing ceremony. The aircraft will be powered by engines made by CFM International, a partnership between General Electric Co, the biggest enginemaker, and France's Snecma, Airbus's Chief Commercial Officer John Leahy said.
"With the introduction of the A320s, China Eastern will operate the biggest A320 fleet in China," Leahy said. With the new planes, about two-thirds of China Eastern's fleet will be Airbus planes.
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