China Southern Airlines Company Limited will be the first Chinese airline to use Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the Chinese airline and the Boeing Company said Wednesday.

The two companies made the announcement on the sidelines of Airshow China 2010, which began Tuesday in Zhuhai City in southern China's Guangdong Province.

Si Jianmin, chairman of China Southern, said the aircraft will fly on one of the company's international routes.

He said he hopes the new aircraft will improve the company's competitiveness.

China Southern is China's largest airline by number of planes and passenger volume.

The two companies did not say when the plane will be delivered.

Boeing has delayed the delivery date of 787 Dreamliners to several airlines a number of times.

It said in August it expects to deliver its first 787 Dreamliner in the middle of the first quarter of 2011.

Boeing says the 787 Dreamliner will consume 20 percent less fuel than similar aircraft.

Some parts of the plane - including the rudder, wing body fairing, and the leading edge of the vertical tail - are made by Chinese parts-makers in China.