Freeze on aircraft orders clarified

Chinese aviation regulators clarified the government's official position on local carriers making new aircraft orders in 2005. According to a statement, officials said that while in principle new orders would not be permitted, airlines were still free to sign deals for equipment to be delivered in 2006 and beyond. The statement reiterated that, given current orders for 147 new aircraft, Chinese airlines already had enough to meet requirements for 2005. The original announcement of the order freeze for the new year sent the value of shares in US aircraft maker Boeing down by more than 2%.