Boeing and Airbus have secured major orders from Avolon Holdings, a leasing company with significant Chinese ownership. The deal includes 250 aircraft, with 140 Boeing 737 MAX planes, 75 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, and 35 Airbus A330neos. Avolon also has options for an additional 100 jets, according to a statement released Friday. Avolon CEO Andy Cronin highlighted strong demand for new-technology aircraft, noting robust placement and trading activity this quarter.
Avolon is majority-owned by Beijing-based Bohai Leasing, with partial ownership from Japan’s Orix. Aircraft lessors have become vital customers for both Boeing and Airbus, offering airlines flexibility to upgrade fleets without direct purchases. Single-aisle models like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 remain the most popular in the leasing industry.
Avolon currently manages a fleet of 1,092 aircraft, including models from Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier. The orders come after a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, where Trump announced China’s intent to purchase 200 “big” aircraft. Boeing later confirmed an initial commitment for 200 aircraft, though details from Beijing remain unpublished.