China Eastern Airlines has announced the purchase of 25 Airbus A330neo aircraft in a deal valued at $9.35 billion at catalogue prices, marking another major step in the airline’s international expansion strategy.
The new widebody aircraft will be delivered between 2029 and 2033 and will primarily operate from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, helping the airline launch new long-haul routes and increase frequencies on existing international services.
The fuel-efficient A330neo, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, will also replace at least 10 aging A330s during the delivery period. China Eastern noted that the actual purchase price is significantly lower than the list price after securing favorable discounts from Airbus.
This follows the airline’s March 2026 order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, highlighting China’s renewed focus on rebuilding and expanding international air travel while strengthening Airbus’ presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
