Leithen francis / singapore
China's Shenzhen Airlines is awaiting government approval to acquire 10 Boeing 737-900s as it looks to establish a separate cargo business and seeks rights to operate international passenger services.
Vice-president of operations Zhang Pei says the airline plans to acquire the 737s direct from the manufacturer for delivery over the next three years. "We have already signed the contract and are now waiting on government approval," he says.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has cleared the all-Boeing operator to wet lease two Airbus A300-600 freighters. Zhang says the company's board is meeting next month to give the final go-ahead for the cargo business and the carrier is speaking to lessors in the hope that a deal can be finalised in June.
CAAC is also considering an application submitted by Shenzhen to operate Boeing aircraft on international passenger services.
The airline wants to start international flights in September and aims to fly Shenzhen-Singapore, Shenzhen-Bangkok and "maybe Vietnam", says Zhang.
Source: Flight International
