An airplane engine made by CFM is on display at the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Zhejiang Loong Airlines, a cargo airline headquartered in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, inked a purchasing deal with US-French joint venture CFM at the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The agreement was signed immediately after the launch of the expo's business exhibitions on the morning of Nov 5. It marked the first purchase made by the Zhejiang trade mission to the third CIIE, which consists of more than 14,000 Zhejiang-based companies.

According to Liu Qihong, chairman of Zhejiang Loong Airlines, the contract value is $636 million. It involves the purchase of four auxiliary engines and maintenance and repair services for 38 engines installed in 19 A320-series airplanes.

The Zhejiang trade mission's first purchase at last year's CIIE was also made by Zhejiang Loong Airlines, which bought $477 million worth of airplane engines and related maintenance services from CFM.