China orders more Airbus
Sichuan Airlines has taken delivery of the first of three A330-200 aircraft leased from AerCap Aviation Solutions.
The Chinese airline, which operates 44 A320s, will use the aircraft to connect its base at Chengdu with domestic and regional destinations as well as new points in Europe.
“In the past decades, Sichuan Airlines has evolved from a regional airline to a national airline,” said chairman Lan Xinguo. “It was then a natural choice for us to select the A330s to help us to become one of the top five Chinese airlines.” Sichuan Airlines operates the first A320 assembled in Tianjin.
In a related announcement, Hong Kong Airlines has signed an MOU for six more A330-200s bringing its order total to 23. Established in 2006, the company will use the aircraft to expand its route network within Asia as well as to the Middle East and Europe.