(13/04/2004) EADS : China Southern Airlines orders 21 Airbus aircraft

09th April, 2004 China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of 21 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, including 15 A320s and six A319s. The aircraft, powered by CFM International's CFM56-5 engines, are scheduled for delivery from the first quarter of 2005. The contract firms up an announcement made in January. The contract makes China Southern Airlines one of the largest A320 customers in China and Asia at large, and consolidates its position as a leader in the China's domestic air travel market. 'We've been very pleased with the economics of our A320 Family to date, and our passengers have been equally pleased with the comfort of the aircraft,' said Yan Zhiqing, Chairman of China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd. 'We believe that the aircraft will help us reduce operating costs and further enhance the level of our services, thus increasing our competitiveness in the market. Introduction of the aircraft is part of our fleet expansion programme from 2001 to 2005.' 'We are glad to see that China Southern Airlines, the largest operator in the country, has given us a new vote of confidence by once again placing a bulk order of Airbus aircraft,' said Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Noël Forgeard. 'The contract has strengthened our long-standing relationship with China Southern Airlines, and we are committed to providing it with the best in customer services.' The best-selling A320 Family's optimized cabin cross-section has set new standards for passenger comfort in the single-aisle aircraft category, allowing both wider seats and wider aisles as well as more spacious overhead stowage. Comprising the A318, A319, A320 and A321, the A320 Family all share the highest degree of commonality and economy, which provides many advantages for operators including reduced maintenance, training and infrastructure costs. China Southern Airlines connects more than 80 cities around the globe with passenger traffic exceeding 20 million annually. China Southern Airlines ordered 20 A320 Family aircraft during 1996 and 1997 and has established one of the largest A320 fleets in the country. In September 2003, it ordered four A330-200s, becoming the first customer of the type on the Chinese mainland. A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems. (C) CompanynewsGroup