Boeing order from traditional Airbus customer

China Eastern Airlines will buy six Boeing 737-700 aircraft for US$240m, according to Shanghai Securities News, which said the first planes would be delivered in January 2006. The announcement, coming from a decided Airbus-centric carrier, ends Boeing's so-so year in China on an upbeat note. Most aircraft purchase agreements announced over the year concerned Airbus, the most recent concerning commitments to buy A-380s, the giant double-deckers set to begin service next year.