Aviation News – China Southern Airlines and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines have finalized an agreement to purchase 137 Airbus A320neo family aircraft to spearhead their next phase of fleet renewal. This multi-billion-dollar deal solidifies Airbus’s footprint in the Chinese market as the region’s largest carriers prepare for long-term capacity growth.
The official filing, released on April 29, 2026, confirms that China Southern will acquire 102 units, while Xiamen Airlines is set to add 35 aircraft to its inventory. While the combined catalog price for the order is estimated at approximately $21.4 billion, such large-scale transactions typically involve significant negotiated discounts. This selection represents a strategic pivot for the airlines as they modernize their existing narrowbody infrastructure.
The delivery schedule is designed to support gradual integration into the existing networks over several years. China Southern expects its first arrivals in 2028, with deliveries continuing through 2032. Xiamen Airlines will follow a similar timeline, with its delivery window opening in 2029 and concluding in the same year as its parent company.
