The Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines took delivery of its 100th Airbus aircraft on Thursday, becoming the first carrier operating a fleet of over 100 Airbus aircraft in China and the entire Asia-Pacific region, the China Daily said on Friday.

The carrier took delivery of its first Airbus, an A310, in June 1985, which marked the beginning of Airbus' entry into the Chinese market.

By the end of August 2005, China Eastern had built up the largest Airbus fleet in China, including aircraft from the A300/310 family, the A320 family and the A340 family.

The airlines was also the first Airbus A310 operator and first A340-600 operator on the Chinese mainland. It also has 20 A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft on order.

The carrier has become one of the top three Chinese airlines with an extensive air network connecting Asia, Europe, America and Australia.

Currently, China Eastern operates nearly 200 aircraft on more than 400 domestic and international routes.

Chairman of the airlines Li Fenghua and Gustav Humbert, Airbus president and chief executive, attended the delivery ceremony, which was held on Thursday at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

Source: Xinhua