China Southern Airlines has agreed to acquire 137 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including 102 jets for its mainline fleet and 35 for subsidiary Xiamen Airlines.
The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2032, according to disclosures made by the airline.
The agreement adds to a wave of recent Airbus narrowbody orders from Chinese carriers. China Eastern Airlines has committed to 101 A320neo-family aircraft, while Air China signed for 60. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines have also placed smaller orders.
China Southern already has significant commitments for the domestically developed COMAC C919, with at least 100 firm orders. The new Airbus deal comes as production of the C919 continues to ramp up at a slower pace than initially expected, limiting near-term fleet growth options for Chinese airlines.
The latest order is valued at about $21.4 billion at list prices, before customary discounts.
Airbus deliveries to Chinese customers have recently resumed after an administrative issue delayed nearly 20 aircraft in the first quarter. The manufacturer said the delay was related to certification and delivery processes rather than geopolitical factors.
