Air China stepping up domestic capacity with order for 20 B737-800s

Air China's shares closed steady on Friday after it agreed to purchase 20 new B737-800s to meet rising demand. Air China stated the aircraft would be delivered between 2013 and 2015 and would “strengthen the fleet capacity of the company with an increase of approximately 5%”. The carrier added the transaction would “reinforce the company's market share in the domestic market, and will also increase frequency of flights for a number of domestic and neighbouring international routes."