Air China is to begin taking delivery of the first of eight new Airbus Industrie A340-300s and Boeing 777-200s in early October, as part of a wider fleet re-equipment programme.
The Chinese flag carrier will take delivery of its first A340 on 8 October, and put the aircraft into commercial service towards the end of the month. A second aircraft will follow in late October, with the third and final A340 on order to be handed over in November.
It plans initially to use the aircraft on domestic services from Beijing to Guangzhou, Hainan, Shanghai and Urumqi. Scheduled international services with the A340 will begin in December, to Fukuoka, southern Japan, and Paris, France. Air China is understood to be considering ordering a fourth aircraft, to allow at least one to be used for Government VIP missions, replacing its Boeing 747SPs.
Air China's first two 777-200s, ordered earlier this year, are due for delivery in October 1998, with a third Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered aircraft following in November. The two remaining twinjets will enter service in April and August 1999. The airline is expected to order five more -200IGW (increased gross-weight) versions in October, during Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's visit to Washington.
Air China will also begin to receive five more 747-400s shortly. Air China now operates a fleet of 49 aircraft, including 19 737-300s which it wants to replace with a yet-to-be-selected new 180- to 200-seat narrowbody airliner.
Source: Flight International
