Boeing Wins $3.2B Order from China Southern Airlines

Boeing Commercial Airplanes finalized a contract with China Southern Airlines for 12 new 787-9 Dreamliners, an order it values at $3.2 billion. China Southern is the world’s sixth-largest airline in terms of passenger volume, having carried more than 100 million passengers in 2014, and Asia’s largest airline in terms of fleet size, currently at 700 aircraft.

Robert Brooks

Oct. 17, 2016

China Southern Airlines has the largest commercial aircraft fleet in China and is the sixthlargest airline in the world as measured by passenger volume — China Southern Airlines has the largest commercial aircraft fleet in China, and is the sixth-largest airline in the world as measured by passenger volume.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes (Boeing Co. IW500/9) finalized a contract with China Southern Airlines for 12 new 787-9 Dreamliners, an order it values at $3.2 billion. China Southern is the world’s sixth-largest airline in terms of passenger volume, having carried more than 100 million passengers in 2014, and Asia’s largest airline in terms of fleet size, currently at 700 aircraft. The fleet includes Boeing 787s, 777s, 747s, 757s, and 737s, and according to the jet-builder China Southern expects to grow its fleet to 1,000 aircraft by 2020.

The new order for the twin-engine wide-body Dreamliners will expand its long-distance fleet. Currently, its long-distance jets include 10 787-8 aircraft. The 12 new 787-9 jets will be delivered between 2018 and 2020.

China Southern Airlines was the launch customer for the 787 series in China. It operates those jets on non-stop routes, from Guangzhou to London and Guangzhou to Rome; as well as Guangzhou to Vancouver; and Guangzhou to Perth, Australia, and Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand.

American Machinist is an IndustryWeek companion site within Penton's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.

About the Author

Robert Brooks

Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.

Brooks is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A. English, Political Science) and Emory University (M.A. English.)