Boeing

Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, has ordered two 747-400 Combis, valued at approximately US$383 million, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group today confirmed. This is in addition to the three 747-400s valued at US$510 million Air China ordered in late 1996.

"We are honored by Air China's strong vote of confidence in Boeing airplanes. These 747s will contribute to Air China's growth and future success," said Larry Dickenson, vice president for International Sales, Asia/Pacific, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group.

China and Boeing this year celebrate 26 years of working together. We are committed to continuing our strong relationship with Air China and China's aviation leaders," he added.

Air China plans to use the 747 Combis on routes to Europe and the United States. The airline currently operates 45 Boeing airplanes including 19 737s, 16 747s and 10 767s.

Since its introduction in 1975, the Boeing 747 Combi has helped airlines around the world meet their long-range passenger and cargo requirements.

The Combi is equipped with a large cargo door behind the left wing, plus equipment that allows passenger seats to be removed and cargo tracks to be installed, giving airlines the option of carrying containerized or palletized cargo on the main deck behind the passengers. This flexibility enables airlines to adapt the interior configuration to meet market variations.

Boeing has for many years provided support in virtually every area of China's aviation industry, including air traffic control and regulatory development, flight and maintenance crew training, a spares center at Beijing Capital Airport and on-the-job training for China's airline personnel.

China has taken delivery of more than 250 Boeing airplanes valued at approximately $US10 billion. This represents more than 60 percent of the market for Western-built jet aircraft.