Beijing-based Air China on Thursday announced that it will buy 20 Airbus planes for $4.49 billion, state media reported.
State-run Xinhua news agency said Air China filed an statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying that the carrier and its import agent AIE will purchase 10 Airbus A330 and 10 Airbus A350.
The company is expecting to take delivery of the A330s between 2013 and 2015, and the A350s between 2018 and 2020.
Boeing recently estimated that China is expected to become the world’s number two plane market as it will require 4,330 new commercial airplanes valued at $480 billion over the next 20 years.