Boeing has won a contract from China Eastern Airlines for 15 787-9 Dreamliner planes worth nearly $4 billion, Boeing said Thursday.

China Eastern plans to use the long-haul planes for travelling between China, North America and Europe, Boeing said.

We are very happy to introduce the new 787 Dreamliners into our long-haul fleet," said China Eastern Airlines Chairman Liu Shaoyong in a statement.

"The addition of these next-generation, fuel-efficient airplanes will play a key role in supporting China Eastern's strategy for international expansion, and enable us to realize profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific Ocean, and between China and Europe."

The aircraft will be mainly used on flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago.

China Eastern is one of China's top three airlines, operating 560 aircraft and carrying around 100 million passengers annually.

The order comes one day after Boeing reported an 8.8 percent drop in first quarter earnings to $1.2 billion, partly due to slower aircraft deliveries into a slowing global economy.

Pakistan, China building JF-17B prototype
Islamabad (UPI) Apr 28, 2016 - Pakistan and China have jointly started production of the first prototype JF-17B combat jet at the Chendu Aerospace Corporation facility in Chendu, China.

The induction for production of the two-seat aircraft took place Wednesday at a ceremony attended by senior Pakistani Air Force and Chinese officials, the Pakistan Air Force reported.

The JF-17B will have a maximum speed of about 1,217 miles per hour, a combat radius of 840 miles and will carry both bombs and missiles. In addition to combat tasks, the plane can also be used for pilot training.

The JF-17B aircraft is likely to make its maiden flight by the end of this year, with induction into the Pakistan Air Force in April of 2017.

Speaking at the induction ceremony in Chendu, Air Marshal Muhammad Iqbal of the Pakistan Air Force said the aircraft is of great value for Pakistan Air Force, enhancing not only training value but also operational capability.

The trainer/fighter was jointly developed by Chendu Aerospace and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.