China unaffected by Boeing 787 checks

BEIJING - Chinese airlines are not affected so far as more countries have announced to temporarily ground Boeing 787 Dreamliners for investigations into battery-related problems.

Boeing 787s purchased by Chinese airlines have not yet been delivered and these orders will not be affected, the US plane maker and two Chinese air companies told Xinhua on Thursday.

Four Chinese airlines have ordered a total of 41 Boeing 787s, including 15 for Air China, the country's flagship carrier, and all of them are awaiting delivery, said an official in charge of press relations at Boeing (China) Co Ltd.

China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines each booked 10 Dreamliners, while the government has not yet approved the six Dreamliners ordered by Xiamen Airlines, the official said, declining to be identified.

A press official at Air China said he has not been informed of any changes in the company's Boeing 787 orders, which are expected to be delivered in 2014.

Xiamen Airlines, which also expect deliveries in 2014, has not seen its orders affected by the incidents so far, the company's press official told Xinhua.

Hainan Airlines "always considers it a top priority to ensure operation safety" and will follow the US authorities' safety appraisal on the Boeing 787s, according to emailed comments sent by the company. It did not specify whether orders will be adjusted.

Phone calls to the press office of China Southern Airlines were not answered on Thursday afternoon.