It seems that the tensions over European Union’s Emission-Trading System are easing, with news that China Southern Airlines is to get 10 Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
Long haul orders seem to have been logged jammed with arguments over the ETS, with significant orders put on hold if they were being brought for use in China.
China Southern says that the aircraft will:
“Facilitate the strategic change and the internationalisation of the company”
Based on list prices, that values the order at US$1.9 billion – of course who pays list price in the aviation game?
Engines for these aircraft has not been selected as yet – the airline using Rolls Royce Trent 700’s on the -200’s, Pratt and Whitney on the -300’s, so it could go either way.
China Southern’s new Airbus A330s will be delivered from 2014 to 2016. The airline currently operates 8 of the A330-300, and 6 of the A330-200 classes – part of a fleet spanning 368 aircraft.