March 31 (Reuters) - Singapore-based BOC Aviation ( BCVVF )

said on Monday that it will purchase 120 aircraft from

Boeing ( BA ) and Airbus as part of its plan to expand

its fleet to 1,000 by the end of the decade.

BOC Aviation ( BCVVF ), majority-owned by the Bank of China, will buy

70 A320NEO family aircraft from Airbus and 50 737-8 jets from

Boeing ( BA ).

The deal underscores the increasing demand for

narrowbody aircraft as global travel surges, though production

challenges, including workers' strike, regulatory scrutiny, and

supply pressures, threaten to cause delivery delays.

Boeing ( BA ) and BOC Aviation ( BCVVF ) did not disclose the details of the

deal, while Airbus did not immediately respond to a Reuters

request for comment.

"With this transaction, we have commitments to purchase over

140 of these (Boeing 737-8) aircraft, which is the largest

Boeing ( BA ) orderbook position in our history," BOC Aviation ( BCVVF ) CEO

Steven Townend said in an official statement from Boeing ( BA ) late on

Sunday.

BOC Aviation ( BCVVF ) planned to grow its fleet to 1,000 planes by

2030, as Townend told The Business Times last September. As of

the end of 2024, it owned and managed 709 aircraft.

The lessor said the aircraft from Boeing ( BA ) are scheduled for

delivery through 2031, while the Airbus aircraft will be

delivered through 2032.