SkyTeam carrier China Southern Airlines expects to have 2,000 aircraft in service by 2035.
Speaking at the World Routes event in Guangzhou on 17 September, the airline's chief executive Tan Wan Geng said: "We plan to have 1,000 aircraft by 2020 and by 2035 it will increase to 2,000.”
This fleet growth will serve demand that is "increasing very fast", he notes, "driven by outbound tourism", which is rising at more than 20% per year.
“By 2020 there will be 200 million outbound tourists from China," Tan continues. "This provides a lot of opportunities for development."
The Guangzhou-based carrier currently has around 800 aircraft in service, he states.
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows China Southern has orders in place for 97 aircraft, including 14 Airbus A320neo-family jets, 20 A350-900s, 14 Boeing 787-9s and 41 737 Max 8s.
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Source: Cirium Dashboard
