Boeing delivers ‘smiling’ jet to Air China  

中国国航续引波音新型飞机 增强北美市场实力

中国国际航空股份有限公司(国航)30日披露，国航与波音公司29日在美国西雅图举办了B777-300ER暨“微笑中国”号彩绘飞机交付仪式。这是国航计划引进19架中的第10架B777-300ER飞机，该机型的陆续引进将进一步增强国航北美及欧洲航线的实力，提升国航在国际航空市场的竞争力。

Beijing (CNS) -- Boeing delivered a special-edition 777-300ER airplane to Air China at a ceremony held Monday in Seattle, Washington.

The airplane known as "Smiling Faces" features a painting of 40 smiling Chinese people on its fuselage, half of whom are Air China employees. The others are netizens selected from a social media campaign, Air China said on Tuesday.

Zhang Yang, Air China's assistant president, said the plane would hopefully play a liaison role and present a happy China to the world.

The 777-300ER model has received favorable reports since Air China received the first one in July last year, Zhang added.

The plane is the 10th of 19 that Air China has ordered from Boeing. Air China said it intends to use the airplanes for route expansions in North America and Europe, as well as to improve its competitive strength.