Chinese airline leases 23 Airbus aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Sept 8, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

China Southern Airlines Northern, a unit of China Southern Air Holding Co, has signed a deal to lease 23 Airbus aircraft to replace its aging MD-82 and MD-90 aircraft.

The Shenyang-based airline will lease the aircraft from aircraft leasing firm International Lease Finance Corporation. The airline has already received four Airbus A319 aircraft in 2004 and plans to take delivery of a further seven in 2005.

The remaining aircraft will either be A319s or A320s with six delivered in 2006 and the final six arriving in 2007. A spokesperson for China Southern Airlines Northern said the new aircraft would help cut the airline's training and maintenance costs, reports Dow Jones.

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