Boeing has secured an order for 82 aeroplanes from the Bank of China (BoC) worth $8.8 billion (£5.3 billion).

Most of the aircraft are from the 737 family of planes, with 50 of the upgraded Max 8 and 30 of the current -800 version, along with two 777-300ERs (Extended Range).

This is one of the largest orders in the history of BoC aviation and is part of a drive by the organisation to expand its portfolio of fuel-efficient planes.

Robert Martin, managing director and chief executive officer at BOC Aviation, said: "The 737 is known for its operational and fuel efficiency, and BOC Aviation expects healthy demand for the Next Generation 737 and 737 MAX variants in the next seven years."

According to an International Air Transport Association study published last year, air travel demand in Asia is projected to expand 5.7 per cent in the four years to 2017 - the second fastest growth rate.