China Eastern Airlines (MU) has agreed to buy 20 Boeing 777-300ERs as the airline expands capacity to meet growing demand in Asia-Pacific and China, according to a Boeing statement. The agreement must be approved by the Chinese government.

“We are delighted that China Eastern has decided to add the 777-300ER to its expanding fleet,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP sales and marketing-Greater China and Korea Ihssane Mounir said.

In March, Airbus said China was blocking a potential MU deal to purchase A330s in protest of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme carbon tax that was imposed on airlines at the beginning of this year ( ATW Daily News, March 8 ).