Budget airline’s 9-yuan tickets available in August  

九元航空与波音签订中国民营航空最大单次采购订单

[Photo: epaper.oeeee.com]

Guangzhou (CNS) -- Tickets as low as 9 yuan ($1.46) from Jiuyuan Airlines will be available later this year after it ordered 50 Boeing aircrafts on Wednesday.

Jiuyuan, Juneyao's low-cost carrier, committed to a six-billion-dollar order from Boeing, the largest ever by a private Chinese airline, reports China News Service.

The order includes 50 Boeing 737-800 planes and next-generation models of the 737 Max, with a value of $6 billion, based on Boeing's list prices.

Jiuyuan, or "9 yuan" in Chinese, has publicized future flight tickets priced at 9, 19, 29, 39 and 49 yuan. Before Jiuyuan, only two Chinese airlines were low-cost carriers: Shanghai-based Spring Airlines and Chongqing-based West Air.

The Guangzhou-based Jiuyuan plans to launch domestic services in August to meet growing air traffic demand in China. And Guangzhou is the top destination of Chinese migrant workers.

Guangdong Vice Governor Xu Shaohua attended the signing ceremony along with Boeing China President Ian Thomas and Wang Junjin, chairman of Juneyao.

Xu praised private airlines, which he said will accelerate the province's aviation development, and promised more support for Jiuyuan.

Boeing has delivered more than 1,000 aircraft in the past 40 years, and will deliver another 1,000 in the next six to seven years, Ian Thomas said.

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