- Boeing (NYSE:BA) says it plans to triple its China fleet over the next 20 years, expecting orders for 5,580 new airplanes in China valued at $780B.
- BA believes strong economic growth and greater access to air travel will spur traffic to rise by nearly 7% each year in China; it foresees the biggest revenue boost from sales of single-aisle planes, used for domestic tourism and pan-Asia travel.
- The plans pose a challenge to rival Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF, OTCPK:EADSY), which currently has a 950-aircraft China fleet; last year, Airbus forecast delivery of 4,270 aircraft to China over 20 years, shy of Boeing's new projections but revised figures are due out from Airbus later this month.