China Southern Airlines has signed a deal with Airbus to buy ten A330-300 aircraft for $1.9bn, as part of its efforts to maximise operational efficiency.
Airbus will deliver the wide-body aircraft in stages between 2014 and 2016.
China Southern Airlines, which is the largest carrier by fleet size in China and Asia, plans to deploy the aircraft on medium and long-haul routes and will fund the acquisition through cash and bank loans.
The twin engine A330-300 offers an increased seating capacity in a typical two-cabin layout of 36 passengers in business class and 264 in coach.
This is the second deal between the European aircraft maker Airbus and a Chinese airlines since the EU decided on 12 November to halt its plans to implement Emissions Trading Scheme on non-EU carriers.
China Eastern Airlines recently signed an agreement to purchase 60 Airbus A320 aeroplanes for approximately $5.4bn.
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By GlobalDataThese deals come after the country’s Civil Aviation Administration urged carriers to purchase wider-body aeroplanes in the wake of growing demand and restricted airspace.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s flagship carrier Iraqi Airways has received its first widebody Airbus A330-200.
This marks the first Airbus widebody aircraft to be operated by the carrier, which already flies two mid-sized A321s.
Iraqi Airways general manager and captain Saad Mahdi Saeed Al-Khafaji said that A330-200 would enable the airline to grow its network of international routes, while offering high quality of service and flight experience to the increasing number of passengers.
"The aircraft will service a number of international routes, namely to Europe, providing passengers a more comfortable journey with spacious seating," Al-Khafaji added.
The flag carrier plans to deploy the new aeroplane on European routes including Germany, Austria and the UK.
Powered by GE CF6-80 engines, the A330-200 can accommodate 24 passengers in business class and 264 in coach.
The A330 line is fuel efficient, features flight-by-wire technology and advanced onboard systems that provide high aerodynamic efficiency, it covers a range of 5,450nm with a maximum takeoff weight capacity of 240mt.
Airbus has received 1,200 firm orders for multiple variants and more than 900 aircraft are in service with 90 operators worldwide.
As well as passenger and freighter aircraft, A330 is available in VIP and military transport / tanker variants.
Image: China Southern Airlines plans to deploy the wide-body A330-300s on medium and long-haul routes. Photo: Fixion / Airbus SAS.
