• Carrier to become the first in China to operate 787-8 and 787-9 variants

Everett, WA | June 8, 2016– Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Hainan Airlines today celebrated the delivery of the carrier’s first 787-9 Dreamliner. Hainan becomes China’s first operator of both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants of the Dreamliner family.

Hainan Airlines, the largest privately owned airline in China, leased the airplane through an agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The delivery is also the first 787-9 Dreamliner to ALC, which has 15 additional 787-9s on order.

“The 787-9 Dreamliner will be a great addition to our long-haul fleet,” said Mou Weingang, Vice Chairman, Hainan Airlines. “The 787-9’s super efficiency, capability and in-flight experience will accelerate our market position internationally.”

As the largest 787 operator in China, Hainan Airlines already has 10 787-8s in service and plans to deploy its first 787-9 Dreamliner on a new route from Beijing to Las Vegas beginning in September.

“We are honored to celebrate this milestone delivery with both ALC and Hainan Airlines,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior vice president of Northeast Asia Sales. “The 787-9 will complement Hainan Airlines’ existing 787-8 fleet, enabling the airline to open up new nonstop services for continuous global expansion.”

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly over 40 more passengers an additional 280 nautical miles (520 kilometers) with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger-pleasing features such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

Hainan Airlines, headquartered in Haikou, is one of only seven airlines, and the first in China, to be rated as a five-star airline by Skytrax, which surveys international travelers to rate and review airlines and airports. Boeing airplanes make up more than 85 percent of Hainan’s current fleet, which serves 500 domestic and international routes.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Thales will equip Hainan Airlines with its AVANT In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system on its future fleet of wide-body A330 aircraft. The first aircraft is expected to enter service in late 2017.

AVANT is Thales InFlyt Experience’s state-of-the-art Android- based IFE solution. It includes a highly customisable passenger experience with a robust selection of features and applications. The fleet will be equipped with the latest AVANT full high definition monitors, the most lightweight ever deployed, featuring high power USB charging for personal electronic devices.

Hainan Airlines is a valued long-term Thales customer and a fast growing airline in the Asia-Pacific region. The airline already operates Thales IFE systems on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Thales is committed to providing a cherished experience for its passengers on their newest fleet additions. As part of this commitment, Thales is investing resources in China to further enhance software and media capabilities that will serve to enrich passenger experience and satisfy local market demands.

Today, AVANT has been selected by 19 airlines and globally more than 230 aircraft are flying with the AVANT system. The system is available to all new generation Boeing and Airbus platforms.

• Extends preference for all-Boeing single-aisle fleet

Farnborough, UK | July 16, 2014/PRNewswire/– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Hainan Airlines today announced that the two companies are finalizing terms and working toward a purchase agreement for 50 737 MAX 8s, reaffirming the Chinese airline’s preference for an all-Boeing single-aisle fleet.

The commitment, valued at more than $5.1 billion at current list prices, will be subject to the approval of the Chinese government and will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

“The 737 is the backbone of our single-aisle fleet,” said Adam Tan, vice chairman and president of Hainan Group. “The new 737 MAX will help our airline grow, become more efficient and offer five-star service for our passengers.”

“It is a privilege to welcome Hainan Airlines as Boeing’s newest 737 MAX customer,” said John Wojick, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “As China’s first Skytrax 5-star airline, Hainan continues to modernize its fleet with market-leading next-generation airplanes, including the 787 Dreamliner and now the 737 MAX. We are confident that the 737 MAX will play a significant role in Hainan’s continued success.”

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,100 orders from 42 customers worldwide and is the fastest selling airplane in Boeing history. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.

The 737 MAX 8 provides customers with more flexibility and cost efficiency than the competition in the heart of the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX 8 will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over the A320neo.