China Eastern Airlines has ordered 101 aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family, including A320neo, A321neo, and A321XLR variants, at a list price of $15.802 billion based on Airbus’ January 2024 catalogue.
The carrier confirmed the details in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on March 25, 2026. Deliveries are scheduled in batches from 2028 to 2032: nine aircraft in 2028, 19 in 2029, 30 in 2030, 27 in 2031, and 16 in 2032.
China Eastern stated that at least 53 existing Airbus A320 aircraft will be retired between 2028 and 2032 due to lease expirations or age. “Therefore, the 101 aircraft purchased this time will partially serve as replacements for the existing fleet,” the filing noted.
The new jets align with the airline’s strategy of “flying further afield, flying internationally and flying to emerging markets.” A spokesperson told AFP that after multiple rounds of commercial negotiations, the actual transaction price was significantly lower than the list price, though regulatory approval is still required.
Delivery timelines and aircraft types may adjust based on market conditions and capacity planning. This order supports China Eastern’s fleet modernization amid its international expansion, including new routes to Europe and beyond in 2026.