China Eastern and China Southern replicate Air China ARJ21 order

China Eastern and China Southern have joined flag carrier Air China in ordering Comac ARJ21-700s. In separate though near-identical statements, each carrier has disclosed an order for 35 of the aircraft, valuing the deal at $1.33b – a figure that covers both the airframe and engine – while also noting price concessions from Comac. Deliveries of these jets are to take place between 2020 and 2024. China Eastern says its order is intended to overcome a "shortage of feeder capacity", improve its network, and "explore the development potential of the feeder market". For China Southern, the ARJ21s will "strengthen the support of the trunk-routes market" and "further expand the market coverage". This could also mean that China Southern's Guangzhou-based mainline carrier will be the one operating the ARJ21s, rather than its affiliates Chongqing Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, in which parent company China Southern Air Holding has majority stakes.<br/>