This deal joins an already-existing order of 12 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at $3.2 billion, which was formalized 12 months ago.
Boeing plans to begin delivering these Dreamliners between 2018 and 2020.
The Chinese carrier also signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 20 A350-900s earlier in April, valued at $6 billion.
The airline operates one of the largest Airbus fleets in the world with more than 300 Airbus aircraft in service, comprising the A320 Family, the A330 Family, and five A380s.
Considered Asia’s largest airline by size, China Southern boasts a massive fleet of 546 aircraft.
Currently, the airline operates 10 Boeing 777-300(ER) and 180 737-700/800. The new 777s and 737 MAX 8s are expected join the fleet between 2019 and 2020.
China Southern made the announcement at the Hong Kong stock exchange filing, where the airline’s strategy to grow its two-hub operation was disclosed.
These planes will boost the firm’s competitiveness in the market, said the airline at the event.
China Southern currently operates two major hubs at Guangzhou and Beijing-Capital.
However, once the new Beijing Airport opens in October 2019, the airline plans to relocate to what should become the world’s largest airport.
Even though the new Beijing Airport will initially operate with a capacity of 45 million passengers per year, it is being constructed to sustain a capacity of up to 100 million passengers per year.
Located about 42 miles from Beijing’s city center, the new airport will be better connected through high-speed rail and a dedicated motorway.
Both China Southern and its competitor, China Eastern, will relocate to this new airport.
It is expected that these two airlines will provide 80% of the airport’s total traffic for the first five years.
China Southern Airlines has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 20 A350-900s.
The airline operates one of the largest Airbus fleets in the world with more than 300 Airbus aircraft in service, comprising the A320 Family, the A330 Family, and five A380s.
Airbus has recorded a total of 841 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers, and the carrier, as the latest customer for the aircraft has the ideal choice for international long haul routes.
The introduction of the A350 XWB will help to strengthen our position as one of the world’s leading international carriers, Tan Wangeng, President of China Southern Airlines, said.
The aircraft features an aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, and new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines.
These technologies lead the carrier into an operational efficiency, with a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn and emissions and lower maintenance costs.
Also, the interior design and the mood lighting in the cabin contributes to comfort and well-being.
We are proud to welcome China Southern Airlines as the latest airline to select the A350 XWB, said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
The unrivaled operational performance, fuel efficiency and cabin comfort of the A350 XWB will give China Southern Airlines a competitive edge on its international network.
China Southern Airlines has finalized yesterday a $3.2 billion order with Boeing to acquire a dozen of 787-9 Dreamliners, in the latest sign of booming air travel demand in China.
The Guangzhou-based carrier said on Wednesday that the new jetliners, to be delivered between 2018 and 2020 will strengthen its expanding long-haul fleet.
The 787 Dreamliners have helped us to achieve initial success in implementing our internationalization strategy in the past few years and enabled us to make our operation and services more appealing to passengers, said Tan Wangeng, CEO, China Southern Airlines.
The additional new 787-9s will further increase our capacity and services for our long-haul routes.”
China is the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, having expanded rapidly as a rising middle class with a strong purchasing power has boosted demand for domestic flights as well as international travel.
China Southern Airlines, China’s launch customer of the 787, currently operates 10 787-8s.
The airplanes have enabled the Guangzhou-based carrier to launch six new non-stop global routes, connecting Guangzhou to London and Rome in Europe, Vancouver in North America, as well as Perth, Auckland and Christchurch in the Oceania area.
China’s largest airline by fleet size, China Southern Airlines currently operates 700 aircraft, including Boeing 787, 777, 747, 757 and 737s.
By 2020, the airline expects to have a fleet of 1,000 aircraft with passenger traffic surpassing 160 million annually.
Tourism Observer
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