China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao) will likely announce a new Next Generation widebody aircraft order either at the end of this year or early next chairman Liu Shaoyong has told the South China Morning Post in an interview.

With both Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) offerings currently being studied, Liu told the paper that his airline would ideally like the new aircraft to slot in once deliveries of its current order of twenty B777-300(ER)s is completed in 2018. It has taken delivery of six thus far.

“We are looking closely at options and studying their compatibility with our networks...we may have a decision to announce by the end of this year or early next year. It is basically between the A350-900 and the B787-9,” he said, declining to indicate the size of possible orders. Liu added they are not considering the A380-800 double-decker at this stage.

Concerning China Eastern's 2005 order for twenty-four B787-8s that was cancelled in 2011, Liu said the type was “not suited for China Eastern’s network expansion plans”. At the time, the airline cited B787 programme delivery delays and a weakening Chinese economy for the cancellation. The order was subsequently replaced with one for forty-five B737-800s.

The ch-aviation aircraft database shows China Eastern deploys its widebody fleet of six B767-300(ER)s, six B777-300(ER)s, thirty-one A330-200s, and eighteen A330-300s on flights throughout China as well as to India, South East Asia, Oceania, Europe, Russia, North America, and the Gulf region.

Following a surge in demand, a drop in oil prices, and improved operational efficiency the carrier says it expects to post a net profit of CNY3.7 billion (USD604 million) for the first half of the year, a change of 26'329% on results for the same period last year when it posted a profit of CNY14 million (USD2.3 million).