China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd agreed on Friday to buy 21
Airbus A320 aircraft from the giant France-based aircraft
maker.
The airline, one of the nation's top three, will buy 15 A320
aeroplanes and six A319 aeroplanes from the firm for a category
price of more than US$1 billion.
The contract makes China Southern one of the largest A320
customers in China and Asia. The aircraft, powered by CFM
International's CFM56-5 engines, are due to be delivered in the
first quarter of 2005.
China Southern Chairman Yan Zhiqing told China Daily
that the A320 fleet is "suitable for our route structure and will
be conducive to our expansion programme." "And they are expected to
reduce our operating costs and enhance our services."
China Southern has 135 aircraft, 38 of which were manufactured
by Airbus.
The company ordered four A330-200 aircraft last September,
making it the first airline to own such a plane on the domestic
market.
China Southern has flights connecting around 80 cities across
the world, with its annual passenger traffic exceeding 20
million.
The contract marks a milestone in terms of the firm's progress
in China's market, according to Airbus Senior Vice-President and
Airbus China President Laurence Barron.
"China's air traffic is growing rapidly and some 1,600 large
aircraft might be needed in the coming two decades," Barron said.
"We are in China for the long-term, and our goal is to take at
least 50 per cent of the market shares," he explained.
He said that the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be an incentive to
China's aviation development and the increasingly dynamic business
communications due to China's entry into the World Trade
Organization will also intensify demand for more aircraft.
He said that Airbus China is working very hard this year,
seeking orders for the 555-seat A380, offering training and support
services, sponsoring seminars to share experiences and provide
technical expertise as well as seeking new investment
opportunities.
(China Daily April 10, 2004)