Boeing sells ten 737s to Xiamen Airlines
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-22 15:20

"The Boeing 737 will help us meet our goal of reducing operating costs and increasing return on investment for our shareholders," he added.

China is the world's fastest growing major aviation market, pitting Boeing in a see-saw struggle against its European arch-rival Airbus.

China signed its biggest-ever deal with Airbus this month, ordering 150 mid-range planes worth a total of nearly 10 billion dollars at list prices.

Last month, Boeing signed a four-billion-dollar deal to supply 70 737 aircraft to eight Chinese airlines. In January, Boeing said it was selling 60 787 passenger jets to China for 7.2 billion dollars.

In the next two decades, Airbus sees potential sales to China of some 1,600 aircraft, while Boeing, which currently has a 62 percent market share, predicts more than 2,000.