SHENZHEN AIRLINES is complaining that it is facing growing pressure from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to purchase five locally manufactured McDonnell Douglas (MDC) MD-90-30s, instead of additional Boeing aircraft.
According to the carrier, it is being told by the Chinese authority to take the first five MD-90s being built by Shanghai Aviation Industrial (SAIC). The CAAC denies this and claims that Shenzhen is free to make its own decision.
Shenzhen operates a fleet of five Boeing 737-300s and says that it is due to take delivery of a sixth in November, along with a further two in 1997. The airline is reportedly keen for an all-Boeing fleet to simplify operations and support.
Chinese airlines have complained before of being forced to take SAIC-assembled MD-80s, although the aircraft are more expensive than those built at MDC's Long Beach, California, plant. MDC says that it is an internal matter for Chinese airlines and Aviation Industries of China (AVIC). State-run AVIC is conducting an intensive marketing effort to place the 20 MD-90 TrunkLiners planned to be built by SAIC, the first of which is scheduled for completion in mid-1998.
AVIC is also targeting the China Northern Airlines-run start-up, Swan Airlines, as a potential MD-90 operator. China Northern recently took delivery of the first of 11 MDC-produced MD-90s, while nine more will go to China Eastern Airlines from 1997.
The company plans to display China Northern's third aircraft at the Farnborough air show in September, after which it will be flown to China.
Source: Flight International
