China Northern Airlines is adding 23 Airbus A320 family aircraft on lease from International Lease Finance (ILFC) to replace its fleet of Boeing MD-82s and MD-90s.
It has already taken delivery of the first four A319s and will receive a further seven in 2005, says Airbus. The remaining 12 will be either A319s or A320s, of which six will be delivered in 2006 and six in 2007, says the manufacturer. All 23 aircraft will be powered by International Aero Engines V2500 engines.
China Northern president Zhou Yong Qian says: "The introduction of the new Airbus aircraft on a large scale will rationalise our fleet, reduce maintenance and training costs and increase passenger comfort." The airline says the A319s and A320s will eventually replace its fleet of 26 MD-82s and 14 MD-90s but it is unclear when this will happen because China Northern is still negotiating to sell the MD-82s to ILFC and has been unable to secure a buyer for the MD-90s.
"We are trying to find airlines in the USA to purchase MD-90s," the carrier says. It also says it tried unsuccessfully to get Boeing to buy back the MD-90s.
Other aircraft in China Northern's fleet include eight Airbus A321s, six Airbus A300-600Rs and some small turboprops. The carrier is part of the China Southern Airlines Group.
LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
