Hong Kong Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus to acquire   15 A350 XWBs and 10 more A330-200s. Under the terms of the agreement, the airline is converting 15 existing A330 orders to A350 XWBs and placing an additional order for 10 A330-200s. The MOU was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow today.

Deliveries of the additional A330-200s will begin in 2012, with the first A350 XWB arriving in 2018. The aircraft will be operated across a long haul network currently being developed by the airline to link Hong Kong with a wide range of destinations in Europe and North America.

“Our latest commitment underscores our ambition to develop an extensive long haul network   offering world class service,” said Yang Jian Hong, President, Hong Kong Airlines. “The super-efficient A330-200 is the perfect platform for us to develop these services, while the A350 XWB will become our new flagship towards the end of this decade.”

“We are extremely pleased that Hong Kong Airlines has reaffirmed its commitment to Airbus aircraft for its future long haul fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “With the A330 and the A350 XWB, the carrier will be operating the cleanest, most efficient aircraft available in the mid-size widebody market now and in the future.”

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines operates a full service Asian network to which it recently added its first long haul service to Europe. Upon confirmation of today’s MOU, the carrier’s widebody orders with Airbus will comprise 15 A350 XWBs and 18 A330s. The carrier also has 30 single aisle A320 aircraft on firm order for future delivery.

Source: Airbus