China still to buy 30 planes

China still to buy 30 planes

BEIJING (Reuters): China plans to go ahead with its planned purchase of 30 Boeing 737 aircraft although the signing of the deal had been delayed by the attacks on the United States, a government official said on Wednesday.

The comments came as Boeing, the world's biggest jet maker, slashed forecasts for deliveries and said the industry downturn could run into 2003 as airlines cut capacity after hijacked passenger planes slammed into New York and Washington last week.

"We will not cancel," said an official of the State Development Planning Commission, which approves plane orders.

Airline industry officials said they were hopeful the deal would be signed before a scheduled visit to China by U.S. President George W. Bush next month.

"There are no plans from domestic carriers to cut the size of their purchases. The only uncertainty about the deal is the date of the signing," said an official at a major Chinese airline which is taking part of the order.