Donghai Airlines (DZ, Shenzhen) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for the purchase of twenty-five B737 MAX 8s and five B787-9s at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow. The order, which is subject to finalization as well as approvals from the Chinese government, follows an order for fifteen B737-800s and ten B737 MAX 8s placed in 2013.

"Donghai Airlines has undergone steady development over the past 10 years since the beginning of our freighter operations in 2006," Wong Cho-Bau, Chairman, Donghai Airlines, said. "Under China's One Belt One Road initiative, we will accelerate our fleet expansion plan to satisfy the rapidly growing air travel market and help build our home base Shenzhen as the transportation hub in southern China. We're committed to introducing new next-generation airplanes that deliver the industry-leading fuel efficiency and passenger comfort in their segment market as a key effort to fulfill the plan."

The Sichuan Airlines (3U, Chengdu Shuangliu) subsidiary's fleet currently consists of two B737-300(F)s and eleven B737-800s used on regular flights throughout China. It is currently in the process of shifting its operations from cargo to passenger-based services.