China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has signed 19 procurement agreements with 18 companies from ten countries and regions—including France, the UAE, Germany, Canada, the U.S., Switzerland, Turkey, and Singapore—at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10.
The agreements, valued at over $2.8 billion, span eight categories such as aircraft engines, flight simulators, aviation materials, telecommunications, and fresh produce. This record-breaking amount marks new highs for CEA in terms of import contract value, agreements signed at the CIIE, and transactions at the expo’s year-round booths.
As a key supporter, buyer, service provider, and nominated carrier for the expo, CEA has been instrumental in CIIE’s development. With the expansion of China’s visa-free policies, CEA now operates around 1,373 international and regional passenger flights per week in the winter-spring season, reaching 102% of pre-pandemic levels from 2019. This rebound in passenger services has boosted demand for aviation-related goods, including in-flight dining and services, enhancing the overall travel experience.
To improve in-flight dining, CEA has expanded partnerships with suppliers from Belt and Road partner countries, signing contracts exceeding $10 million for in-flight catering with companies such as Emirates’ Dnata, Singapore’s SATS, and Germany’s LSG Sky Chefs.
Additionally, CEA has capitalized on its logistics capabilities with a five-year procurement agreement with Canada’s Benson Lobster to import Boston lobsters. Through its origin-to-destination charter service model, CEA aims to supply fresh products directly to Chinese consumers.
At this year’s CIIE, CEA also explored new service models for aviation materials, signing agreements with global industry leaders including Boeing, Satair, TurbineAero, and CAE. These collaborations will provide CEA with advanced products and technologies to improve operational efficiency.
Based in Shanghai, CEA is the city’s largest airline and a centrally administered state-owned enterprise. This year, it invited eight international suppliers to the CIIE, including GE and Honeywell, who have attended every CIIE at CEA’s invitation. CEA and GE renewed their partnership with a new agreement signed at this year’s event.