Three New Aircraft delivered to China Southern this week

China Southern Airlines has taken delivery this week of two new “Next Generation” 737-800 aircraft from Boeing and a new Airbus A319 aircraft.

The new Airbus delivery is the third of four new Airbus A319 aircraft to be delivered to China’s largest airline in 2003. Each new Airbus A319 offers 128 seats in a two-class configuration - eight Business Class seats and 120 Economy Class seats. China Southern Airlines currently operates 20 Airbus A320.

In Seattle, the delivery this week of China Southern’s newest passenger aircraft from Boeing is #10 in the current order of 20 new Boeing 737-800 “Next Generation” aircraft in deal that was inked on October 3, 2001. China Southern’s new 737-800 aircraft will offer 167 seats in a two-class configuration, eight First Class seats and 159 Economy Class seats.

 Once certified in China by the CAAC, China Southern Airlines’ Hunan Branch will immediately place the new 737-800 aircraft into operation. The CZ Hunan Branch has been servicing its market using “aged” 737-500 aircraft and the brand new 800 series is the first of its kind in the Hunan commercial marketplace.

China Southern Airline’s Hunan Branch currently has five 737-500 aircraft in operation and they all will be “swapped” out with all-new Next Generation Boeing aircraft by the close of 2003.

The new 737-800 aircraft will replace the same number of existing 737 series aircraft currently operated by China Southern Airlines and will significantly lower the average age of the airline’s fleet - already one of the youngest civil aviation fleets in China.