To meet the rapid increase in traveling demands, the China Eastern Airlines has expressed a major interest in buying 16 Airbus A330 planes which will be accounted for around 17.7 billion yuan. With these 16 Airbus A330 planes, the company's capacity will increase 15.22 percent. The planes would be delivered between 2011 to 2014.

The purchase, as confirmed by the company, will be funded through loans from the country's major banks.

The international expansion of the airline can help the company cope with competition from domestic high-speed railways. And after China Eastern acquires Shanghai Airlines (SAL), the new China Eastern Airlines can better serve Shanghai as an international transfer hub.