The Hong Kong flag carrier said it will buy Boeing jets valued at about US$8 billion as it posted a slight increase in first-half profit on higher passenger volumes and lower fuel prices.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said Wednesday it would place an US$8.1-billion order for 14 Boeing jets, its first with the US aircraft

Cathay Pacific has ordered 14 more Boeing 777X jets, its first Boeing purchase in over a decade, doubling down despite years of delivery delays.