Boeing and Okay Airways, China's first privately-owned airline, say they have finalized an order for five 787-9 Dreamliners.

The agreement, signed as a memorandum of understanding at the 2017 Paris Air Show, is valued at US$1.4 billion at list prices.

"We are committed to investing in our aircraft fleet in order to keep growing ahead of the market and enhancing our customers' flying experience," said Li Zongling, president of Okay Airways. "Today's order for the all-new, super-efficient 787-9 Dreamliner will strengthen Okay's position to expand into the long-haul market with the best product in its class."

"We are honored to welcome Okay Airways as our new 787 customer," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Global Sales and Marketing Senior Vice President Ihssane Mounir. "The 787-9 will complement Okay's single-aisle fleet and enable them to profitably open new long-haul routes, while providing their passengers unmatched comfort. We value our longstanding partnership with Okay Airways and look forward to delivering these airplanes to support their international expansion plan."

This order will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

Okay Airways is headquartered in Beijing with its main hub at Tianjin Binhai International Airport. Its current all-Boeing jetliner fleet includes 26 737s, serving more than 70 domestic and regional destinations.

With more than 1,280 orders from 70 customers worldwide, the 787 Dreamliner family offers three modern and efficient airplanes that are optimized for the middle of the market. The 787-9 is the second member of the fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane in history. It can fly 290 passengers up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140km). The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787 family, offering passenger pleasing features such as large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

More than 600 787 Dreamliners have entered commercial service. They have flown more than 200 million passengers while saving over 19 billion pounds of fuel, enabling airlines to open more than 170 new nonstop routes around the world.