12 Nov 2026
#2 November 2026: China Aviation Industry Newsletter
Cathay Group Orders 14 Additional Airbus Aircraft
Cathay Group has exercised purchase rights for 11 additional Airbus A330-900 aircraft and three A321neo aircraft. The transaction increases Cathay Pacific’s firm commitment for the A330-900 to 41 aircraft, while the additional A321neos will support HK Express’s expansion across mainland China and other short-haul markets. Cathay said the latest commitment brings its planned aircraft deliveries from 2026 to 120 and its total committed investment between 2026 and 2035 to more than 150 billion Hong Kong dollars.
China Eastern Selects LEAP Engines For 101 Airbus Aircraft
China Eastern Airlines has selected CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power 101 new Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, alongside spare engines and a long-term services agreement. The future fleet will include A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR aircraft. China Eastern already operates 215 LEAP-powered A320neo and A321neo aircraft, giving the airline a substantial installed base across its new-generation narrowbody fleet.
C909 Firefighting Aircraft Participates In Major Emergency Exercise
COMAC’s C909 firefighting aircraft participated in the Emergency Mission 2026 major forest-fire response exercise held in Fengjie County, Chongqing, on 9 November. The exercise involved more than 1,600 personnel, over 150 pieces of equipment and more than 40 aviation assets, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones. It tested coordinated air-ground firefighting, surveillance, evacuation and emergency-response procedures.
Acumen’s Take
On Cathay’s Additional Airbus Order
Cathay’s latest order provides a mix of regional widebody and narrowbody capacity, allowing the group to match aircraft size more closely with different markets. The scale of its delivery pipeline will require careful coordination across financing, induction planning, maintenance capability and the retirement or redeployment of existing aircraft.
On China Eastern’s Engine Selection
China Eastern’s LEAP agreement demonstrates how engine selection extends beyond the initial aircraft purchase. Long-term service support, spare-engine access, maintenance capacity and time-on-wing performance will have a major influence on fleet availability and the overall economics of the airline’s narrowbody growth programme.
On The C909 Firefighting Aircraft
The C909 firefighting variant illustrates how an established commercial aircraft platform can be adapted for specialised public-service missions. Long-term market potential will depend on certification, mission-system integration, maintenance support and COMAC’s ability to provide dependable through-life services for specialist operators.
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