Carrier becomes latest of several Chinese operators to disclose order for Airbus narrowbodies
China Southern Airlines has entered a purchase agreement for 102 Airbus A320neo-family jets, plus a further 35 which will be allocated to subsidiary Xiamen Airlines.
The carrier disclosed the agreement on 29 April.
It states that the aircraft will be delivered to the two airlines over the course of 2028-32.
No engine selection has been given.
China Southern becomes the latest in a series of Chinese airline customers to unveil an Airbus narrowbody expansion.
It was preceded by a deal involving China Eastern Airlines, for 101 A320neo-family jets, and Air China for 60.
Spring Airlines is taking 30 and Juneyao Airlines has signed for 25.
China Southern Airlines holds a 55% share in Xiamen Airlines.
It cites the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region provide the company with “broader…opportunities”.
“The [company] has actively seized development opportunities, maintained steady growth in capacity share, and optimised its fleet structure,” it adds.
“The purchase will help enhance…market competitiveness by increasing its flight capacity.”
China Southern states that the catalogue price for the 137 aircraft is around $21.4 billion, before typical concessions.
Airbus revealed on 28 April that an administrative issue had held up deliveries of nearly 20 aircraft to Chinese customers during the first quarter — one of the reasons for a dip in deliveries for the three-month period.
But deliveries to Chinese customers have since resumed. Airbus says the issue was not geopolitical, but related to the “complexity” of handing over aircraft with certain characteristics from a European type certificate to Chinese authorities.
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