Ruili Airlines has signed an agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing and AVIC Leasing for 60 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

A spokeswoman from the Chinese start-up tells Flightglobal the agreement was inked on 18 May, which also marks the airline’s one year anniversary.

Of the 60 jets, 30 will come from Minsheng, and 30 from AVIC.

She could not provide information on when the aircraft are scheduled to be delivered, or whether the deal has been approved by Chinese regulators. Neither Boeing or the two lessors have announced the deal.

Ruili operates domestic services from its base at Kunming’s Changshui International airport.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that the airline has five Boeing 737s in service, three of which are leased from AVIC Leasing and Minsheng Commercial Aviation, while the other two are owned.

It also has letters of intent for a further 12 of the narrowbodies.

The carrier, wholly owned by Chinese conglomerate Yunnan Jincheng Group, says it will grow to a fleet of seven jets by end 2015, and to 56 aircraft by 2025.

Source: Cirium Dashboard