CA: Painting a 747-8i Orange = Orders! - Air China Selects Boeing 747-8i's

Well it's the Asian Aerospace Show this week, and there are bits and bobs of orders dripping out - but the highlight of the day so far is Air China who have placed an order for Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft.

Now before Boeing fans and fans of the upper deck wet themselves in anticipation, it's a grand total of five frames that have been ordered (the same as Korean Air).

Which isn't a big fleet at all.

Whilst this is good on paper, the deal has to be ratified by the Chinese Government.

He Li, vice-president of Air China states:

"The new high capacity Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental will deliver exceptional economics and a great flying experience to our customers."

Air China is hoping for these frames within the next three years to expand it's international network. Whilst it's chosen the 747-8I in the first instance, it still hasn't shut out the possibility of operating Airbus A380's in it's fleet.

Suffice to say, it's given Boeing a small shot in the arm with the 748-8I project which now is up to 38 orders - 30 of which are going to Commercial Customers.

Boeing released a rendering of what the 747-8I will look like in Air China's livery:

Image (c) Boeing.