Air Transport

Air China is returning leased aircraft this year but it has stated publicly it has so far refrained from delaying aircraft on order.

The airline's chairman, Kong Dong, told reporters in Hong Kong Air China will be receiving 27 aircraft this year but will be returning eight to ten aircraft that have leases expiring.

An Air China spokeswoman in Beijing tells ATI that "at this time there is no sign" Air China will delay delivery of aircraft on order.

She says the aircraft coming this year are all new, mostly Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800s on order.

The ones it is returning to leasing firms are 737s and Boeing 767s, she adds.

Kong also told the reporters that Air China had put in a request to the Chinese Government for a cash injection but so far the government has declined it. This is despite the fact the government has given financial aid to China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines to help cope with the sharp decline in passenger traffic.

"We made the request together" with China Eastern and China Southern, says Kong.

"The government should consider" Air China's request, he adds.

Air China earlier this month reported a net loss of 9.25 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) for the 2008 calendar year, compared to a 4.04 billion yuan profit for 2007.

China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have also reported losses and disclosed publicly plans to delay delivery of aircraft on order.