News
Sichuan Airlines orders 15 A320s, Shenzhen Airlines to receive A330s
June 10th 2016
Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines last week signed a firm order for 15 additional A320 Family aircraft worth $1.46 billion at list prices. Sichuan Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet of 23 A319s, 48 A320s, 28 A321s, four A330-200s and four A330-300s. Read More »
The airline is 40%-owned by the Sichuan provincial government, with China Southern Airlines its second largest shareholder at 39%. This week, the full-service carrier asked the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite its application for a foreign air carrier permit to launch Chengdu-Hangzhou-Los Angeles and Chengdu-Jinan-Los Angeles from September as well as flights from several Mainland cities to Guam and Saipan.
"SCAL [Sichuan Airlines] desires to begin advertising and selling tickets to consumers as early as possible in advance of these launch dates to ensure the early success of the new PRC-LAX services," it said. "SCAL requires prompt issuance of DOT economic authority to achieve that goal."
Speaking to delegates at the 72nd International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Dublin last week, Orient Aviation learnt that Shenzhen Airlines is looking to add A330 wide bodies to its fleet from 2017. The Air China subsidiary plans to use the A330 for regional services to Bangkok and Tokyo and potentially on long-haul flights to Australia.
The A330 is proving particularly popular with Mainland operators. The “Big Three” have significant numbers of A330s as do Hainan Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Beijing Capital Airlines. Orient Aviation understands Okay Airways and Juneyao Airlines are looking to add A330s to their fleets next year.
