Boeing wins $4 billion aircraft order from China Eastern

 Boeing has won a contract from China Eastern Airlines for 15 787-9 Dreamliner planes worth nearly $4 billion, Boeing said on Thursday.

China Eastern plans to use the long-haul planes for travelling between China, North America and Europe, Boeing said. "We are very happy to introduce the new 787 Dreamliners into our long-haul fleet," said China Eastern Airlines Chairman Liu Shaoyong in a statement.

"The addition of these next-generation, fuel-efficient airplanes will play a key role in supporting China Eastern's strategy for international expansion, and enable us to realize profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific Ocean, and between China and Europe."

The aircraft will be mainly used on flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago. China Eastern is one of China's top three airlines, operating 560 aircraft and carrying around 100 million passengers annually.

The order comes one day after Boeing reported an 8.8% in first quarter earnings to $1.2 billion, partly due to slower aircraft deliveries into a slowing global economy.