RT has reported that the two airliners were purchased by a Chinese cargo airline, SF Airlines, for over $48 million. The vendor, the Intermediate People's Court in the city of Schenzen, had seized the jetliners after the freight company Jade Cargo International declared bankruptcy in 2013.
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The court had attempted to auction the jets at least half a dozen times, but had only been successful when it decided to auction them on Taobao, which is known as China's e-Bay. The court had bid a total of three jets and one remains unsold and has a starting bid of $18 million.
The court stated that this was the first time passenger jets had been sold in an online auction and the Xinhua News Agency stated that 800,000 viewers followed the proceedings.
Two Boeing 747 freighters are sold via Alibaba's Taobao, 1st major aviation sale by online auction in China https://t.co/fwm54Q0As6 pic.twitter.com/OWrTU8F8IR
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 21, 2017
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“Online auctions are a good way to handle the property of bankrupt firms,” Long Guangwei, the court’s vice president, told a local news agency. “Online auctions save time and service fees for bidders.”
The general manager of Alibaba’s auction business, Lu Weixing, added: “online auctions help transparency in legal affairs because all information is there for all to see.”
Toabao's $48 million doesn't come close to another record set by Alibaba's global rival. In 2006 eBay set a mindblowing record when it sold a 405-foot pleasure boat known as the "Gigayacht" for $168 million on its website. With the rivalry booming, it won't be long before an island is auctioned off online.
What are the most outrageous things you have seen being sold online? Leave your comments below!
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