China Southern joins deal frenzy for C919 jet to rival duopoly

China Southern Airlines Co. said it will buy 100 Comac C919 jets, bolstering the streak of recent orders for the local planemaker vying for a role alongside incumbents Boeing Co. and Airbus SE.

The Guangzhou-based carrier’s purchase is valued at US$9.9 billion at list prices, it said in an a filing Monday. 

Read More: Air China Orders Homegrown C919s in Challenge to Jet Duopoly

The deal means China’s three largest state-owned carriers have now ordered a combined 300 single-aisle jets from Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd., while maintaining large a backlog with Airbus and Boeing.

China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd. kicked off the mega-orders on Sept. 29, striking a deal with the planemaker better known as Comac for 100 single-aisle aircraft. Last week, Air China also announced a plan to buy 100 units of the jet, which is similar in size to the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737.