Boeing has announced that Xiamen Airlines (MF), subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, has agreed to purchase 40 B737-800s worth US$3.5 billion at list price. The order can be confirmed once approval is sought from the Chinese government. The new aircraft will operate international routes to destinations in Asia-Pacific regions to meet growing passenger traffic. Delivery will take place between 2015 and 2020, said the carrier’s spokesperson, with business travellers and government officials being the target clientele.
The short- to medium-range narrow-bodied B737-800 belongs to Boeing’s Next-Generation 737 series, which is said to be reliable, fuel efficient and economical, with an 8 per cent per-seat operating cost advantage over its nearest competitor. The capabilities of the aircraft make it ideal for flying Asia-Pacific destinations, said the airline representative. The B737 can seat 162 passengers in a dual-class setup or up to 189 passengers in a high-density configuration.
The deal is in line with the airline’s development plans, the spokesperson continued: “Xiamen Airlines has been expanding its international network aggressively since 2011. We have placed a firm order for six long range wide-body B787 Dreamliners (see story here) to be delivered between 2014 and 2015, which will be deployed for inter-continental operations, including Australia and America.”
MF currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 83 aircraft, including six medium-range narrow-body B757-200s and 77 short- to medium-range narrow-body B737s comprising 60 B737-800s and 17 B737-700s. Over the next four years, the carrier expects delivery of 49 B737-800s. The airline plans to expand its operational fleet to 136 airplanes by the end of 2015, with at least 12 aircraft added to the fleet per year, the spokesperson added.
For a comprehensive analysis of other operators' B787 Dreamliners, click here.
For more information, visit www.xiamenair.com/cn/en or www.boeing.com.
Michelle Fong
