Boeing 787 Dreamliners have been cleared for commercial flights in China for the first time.
The decision paves the way for domestic airlines to start taking deliveries a month after US regulators approved Boeing’s redesign of its battery system.
Chinese airlines have ordered 41 Dreamliners to date, including China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Air China and Xiamen Airlines.
Boeing forecasts that China will buy 5,260 new aircraft over the next two decades with the country’s aviation market growing faster than any other in the world.
The certification from the Chinese aviation authority will initially restrict the 787 to domestic routes, but that will probably be expanded to international routes after a short time, according to the Financial Times.
Boeing China spokesman Wang Yukui said: “787 is the right airplane for the Chinese airlines. It will support their international expansion.”