The Guangzhou-based carrier has 10 Dreamliners on order. According to CEO Tan Wangeng, the rest of the aircraft order will be delivered by the end of next year. Tan noted the airline’s first 787 will be initially operated on its Beijing-Guangzhou route beginning June 6. Later it will be used on long-haul routes to Paris, Vancouver, London and Auckland.
China Southern is the tenth customer worldwide to take delivery of the 787, which was granted an airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in May.
In recent years, China Southern has accelerated its international expansion pace, especially on its Canton route between Australasia and major European gateway cities, as part of an overall strategy to grow its international network and attract more business travelers.
Air China has 15 787s on order, Hainan Airlines has ordered 10 787s and Xiamen Airlines has six of the type on order.
Hainan Airlines is scheduled to introduce its first 787 at the end of June while Xiamen Airlines is expected to take delivery of its first 787 in July 2014; the rest of the aircraft will be introduced between 2014 and 2015. Xiamen plans to operate its Dreamliners to open more international routes to Europe and the US.
(Katie Cantle - ATWOnline News)
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