Chinese Airlines Eye 500 Airbus, Boeing Jets in Mega Orders

China’s largest airlines are preparing to divide a massive 500-plane order from Airbus, with a similar deal for Boeing also under discussion, Bloomberg reported. The potential orders, still unannounced, would mark the biggest in China’s aviation history and highlight the scale of demand in the country’s fast-recovering travel market.

According to people familiar with the matter, China Southern Airlines, Air China, and China Eastern Airlines plan to secure about 100 Airbus jets each. Meanwhile, Xiamen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines are expected to take around 35 aircraft apiece. If confirmed, this agreement would surpass the July 2022 record order of 292 Airbus A320-family aircraft by Chinese carriers.

At the same time, Boeing is reportedly negotiating a deal to sell as many as 500 jets to Chinese airlines. Such an agreement would be the first major Boeing order from China since 2017, potentially easing trade tensions between Beijing and Washington. The US manufacturer has struggled in the market due to the prolonged Boeing 737 MAX grounding, delayed recertification, and political disputes.

Chinese airlines are known for keeping new orders under wraps until deliveries begin, meaning their true backlog is often hidden. Fleet data shows Air China operates 530 aircraft, China Eastern 671, and China Southern 677, with mixed Airbus and Boeing fleets. In contrast, Sichuan Airlines flies an all-Airbus fleet of 212 jets, while Xiamen Airlines runs 174 aircraft, mostly from Boeing.

Negotiations continue, with details on aircraft types, quantities, and delivery schedules still being finalized.

Airbus and Boeing Orders, as of July 2025:

Airbus Total Gross Orders: 501
Boeing Total Gross Orders: 699

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com, bloomberg.com

Tags: chaviation

Chinese Airlines Eye 500 Airbus, Boeing Jets in Mega Orders

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