Shandong Air orders 50 Boeings for US$4.6b

[BEIJING] Shandong Airlines, one of China's smaller carriers, said it has agreed to buy 50 passenger planes from US manufacturer Boeing for US$4.6 billion, in another sign of the country's growing demand for air travel.

The company signed a deal on Monday to purchase 16 Boeing 737-800s and 34 Boeing 737 MAX planes, a statement said, in a drive to grow its fleet for future business expansion.

China's commercial airline industry is dominated by the "Big Three" - flag carrier Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines - but a move towards greater competition has seen the growth of smaller players.