Start-up Chinese carrier Qingdao Airlines has placed an order for 23 Airbus A320 family aircraft.
The order comprises five baseline A320s and 18 A320neo aircraft, Airbus said in a statement.
Deliveries will begin in 2016, although Qingdao will commence services in 2014 using leased A320 aircraft. The order is subject to central government approval.
The deal was announced at the Aviation Expo China 2013 trade show in Beijing. It was signed between Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy and Xiao Liyuan, president of Qingdao Airlines.
Qingdao Airlines will be based in Qingdao's Liuting International Airport.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Online Fleets database shows that the carrier’s first leased A320 will be delivered in March 2014. A second aircraft is expected in May 2014. It is also expected to receive three new leased A320s in January, April and November 2015.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
