Category Archives: China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern to unveil a new “color” scheme on its first Boeing 777-300 ER

Airline color schemes (also known as airline liveries) have been getting simpler (i.e. cheaper to maintain) for several years. It started with the “Europe White” style which removed the traditional fuselage cheat line and replaced it with a basic (boring) white fuselage with a tail design (less area to maintain).

Unless there is more to come, apparently China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) will join this growing trend and has taken it a step further. The airline will only have its traditional fuselage titles and a simple (less colorful) tail logo. The traditional China Eastern cheat line will be retired adding to a growing list of airlines that have joined this club.

The new livery is seen for the first time on newly painted Boeing 777-39P ER B-2001 (msn 43269) (above) pictured arriving at Paine Field after being painted at Victorville, CA. B-2001 is the first Boeing 777-300 ER for the carrier and the airline felt it needed a new look for this new chapter in its history. It will replace the more colorful 1988 color scheme (below).

China Eastern will take delivery of its first 777-300 ER in late September and has 20 on order. It will become the third stretched Triple Seven operator in China following Air China and China Southern Airlines.

China Eastern is planning to introduce the new type on the Shanghai (Hongqiao) – Beijing route starting on September 30 pending delivery.

Top Copyright Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlinersGallery.com.

China Eastern Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-89P B-5086 (msn 32800) at Beijing displays the 1988 color scheme.

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China Eastern Airlines becomes the first Chinese airline to offer Wi-Fi services over China

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) has begun offering Wi-Fi service over China. The airline issued this statement:

In a first for the commercial aviation industry in China, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has begun offering broadband connected flights over China using China Telecom Satellite aeronautical service and Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s (Panasonic) eXConnect system.

The first of 27 CEA aircraft equipped with a system and service tailored to the unique requirements of China is an Airbus A330 aircraft. Onboard, passengers will experience true broadband Wi-Fi as they surf the web, keep in touch with friends and family through their social networks, and even check their email – all at 35,000 feet. CEA has also selected China Telecom Satellite’s service and Panasonic’s eXConnect system for an additional six Boeing 767s and 20 Boeing 777 aircraft.

The first aircraft has been dedicated to routes between Shanghai and Beijing, allowing government agencies to observe operation of the service before granting full regulatory approval for operation on additional domestic and international routes.

China Eastern Airlines said, “We are very excited to offer this extremely exciting service with China Telecom Satellite and Panasonic Avionics. This is a tremendous milestone for China and we look forward to ensuring our passengers are both entertained and productive as they fly.”

Lv Junli, President of China Telecom Satellite, added, “This is a momentous day for China’s commercial airline industry, and we are very confident of providing better broadband connectivity to China with our partners at China Eastern Airlines and Panasonic.”

According to Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics, “After years of close collaboration with China Eastern Airlines and China Telecom Satellite, we are now witnessing the next step in the evolution of in-flight entertainment over China. We are very excited to bring in-flight broadband Wi-Fi to this strategic market.”

About Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world’s leading supplier of in-flight entertainment and communication systems. The company’s best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling airlines to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs.

Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 3,100 employees and operations in 80 locations worldwide, it serves over 200 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 3,700 aircraft. For additional information, please visit http://www.panasonic.aero

About China Telecom Satellite Communications Limited

Dedicated to satellite communications services, China Telecom Satellite Communications Limited, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Telecom, specializes in the operation of its parent corporation’s satellite communications business. It serves as the resource center, product integration center and professional support center of China Telecom’s satellite communications business, mainly engaged in Satellite mobile communications, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications, International private line and Satellite broadband access, etc., providing integrated (Aviation/Land/Maritime) satellite communications and broadcasting operating service with characteristics to subscribers.

Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. Brand new Boeing 737-89P WL B-1965 (msn 41473) was just delivered to China Eastern Airlines on July 19, 2014.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern Airlines to finalize an order for 80 Boeing 737s

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) has committed to and plans to finalize an order for 80 new Boeing 737s.

Boeing issued this statement:

Boeing is pleased that China Eastern Airlines has committed to purchase 80 737s, including Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX airplanes. When finalized, the order will become China’s largest-ever purchase by an airline for single-aisle airplanes, worth more than $8 billion at current list prices.

Copyright Photo: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-86N B-5683 (msn 39400) in the special “Yunnan Peacock” color scheme arrives at Taipei (TPE).

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern is coming to Toronto

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) is planning to launch its second route to Canada, this time Toronto (Pearson). According to Airline Route, the new route will be started on June 25 with Airbus A340-600s operating three days a week.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-642 B-6053 (msn 577) in SkyTeam livery rotates at Los Angeles.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern Airlines orders 70 Airbus A320neo aircraft, will trade-in its seven A300-600s

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) has ordered 70 Airbus A320neo aircraft according to Reuters. The new aircraft will be delivered from 2018 through 2020.

China Eastern operates both the Airbus A320 Family and Boeing 737 Family aircraft.

China Eastern will also trade-in its seven remaining Airbus A300-600s.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 B-9950 (msn 5668) with Sharklets arrives in Beijing.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Express Airlines orders three additional Bombardier CRJ900s

China Express Airlines (Guiyang, Guizhou), has placed a firm order for three Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen airliners, as well as entered into conditional purchase agreements for five CRJ900 NextGen aircraft with options on an additional eight CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. China Express provides regional passenger services with its fleet of five Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft and six CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. The airline made history last year by being the first to operate the CRJ900 aircraft in China.

“By 2016, we anticipate that the total number of China Express’ routes will reach approximately 90, three times as many as the number of existing routes, and will cover 60 per cent of China’s regional cities,” said Wu Longjiang, President, China Express. “We are confident that our fleet of Bombardier aircraft will be a very efficient and reliable asset in achieving these objectives.”

As of September 30, 2013, Bombardier had recorded firm orders for 1,779 CRJ Series aircraft, including 306 CRJ900 andCRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and more than 30 customers operate corporate variants of the aircraft. The aircraft are operating in over 50 countries on six continents, and on average, a CRJ aircraft takes off every 10 seconds somewhere in the world. CRJ Series aircraft have transported more than 1.4 billion passengers and have logged more than 38 million flight hours and over 32 million takeoffs and landings.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) C-GIAZ (msn 15277) is pictured at Farnborough.

Rap comes to China Eastern Airlines Aviation Maintenance

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) maintenance employees have issued a rap video bringing rap to the Chines aviation scene.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern Airlines takes delivery of the first Airbus A320 with Sharklets

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing-tip devices, becoming China’s first carrier to do so. The aircraft is also the first Sharklets equipped A320 assembled and delivered in Tianjin, China.

The A320, powered by IAE V2500 engines, features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with eight in business class and 150 in economy. The A320 will make its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Dalian on May 18.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and standard on all members of the new A320neo family. They offer operators up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

China Eastern is one of the largest airlines in China and is the first Chinese airline operating Airbus aircraft in 1985. Now it operates an Airbus fleet of over 230 aircraft including A300s, A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s.

Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre has delivered 126 aircraft since June 2009 and it plans to deliver 46 aircraft in total in 2013.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern Airlines to order 60 Airbus A320s

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) intends to order 60 additional Airbus A320s for deliveries in the 2014-2017 period according to this report by news.com.au.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Airbus A320-232 B-6376 (msn 3692) in the colorful International Horticulture Expo 2011 (Xian) completes its final approach into Beijing.

China Eastern Airlines:

China Eastern Airlines to return to San Francisco after 13 years

China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai) is returning to San Francisco after 13 years. According to Airline Route, the airline will restore the Shanghai (Pudong)-San Francisco route on April 26, 2013. The daily route will be operated with Airbus A330-200s.

China Eastern: