Boeing, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Air China celebrated the delivery of the 800th Boeing airplane for China - a Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 to Air China on July 20, 2010.

In 1972, CAAC ordered 10 Boeing 707s, establishing it as a major world airline. Today, Boeing jets are the mainstay of China's air travel and cargo system. More than 50 percent of all the commercial jetliners operating in China are Boeing airplanes.

Air China, China's national flag air carrier, is the largest air carrier based in mainland China in terms of its international traffic and size of its twin-aisle fleet.

"We have witnessed the rapid development of the aviation industry in China. We are honored to be part of the development by providing our best products and services," said Jim Simon, vice president of sales for China, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are also proud that China has a sophisticated and expanding role in the commercial aviation industry and on all Boeing commercial airplane models including the 787 Dreamliner."

Boeing has purchased more than $1.5 billion in aviation hardware and services from China and will double that in coming years. More than 5,700 Boeing airplanes currently in service include Chinese-made parts.