Hainan Airlines takes delivery of first Airbus A319

Hainan Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A319 aircraft today in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft will arrive at Xi'an International Airport in the Shanxi Province tomorrow, where a formal handover ceremony will take place.

The A319 is powered by CFM International CFM56-5b engines and is configured in a single economy-class layout, which will provide spacious space for 134 passengers. The aircraft will be operated by Chang'an Airlines, a local branch of Hainan Airlines in Xi'an, and will serve domestic trunk routes and some high-altitude routes like Tibet, Huanglong and Gongga.

Having started its operations in 1993, Hainan Airlines currently operates out of the city of Haikou, Hainan Island, with airlinks to more than 50 domestic destinations.

The A319, which is known to the Chinese customers as "the Mountain Goat", first made a successful demonstration flight over Tibet International Airport in 2001. Since then, it has been widely received by Chinese customers. Currently, there are 50 A319s in service in the Chinese fleet on the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

Airbus first entered China in 1985 and has now sold 183 A320 Family aircraft to 11 airlines with 120 aircraft having been delivered to date. In total, 192 A320 Family aircraft are in use in China with 14 customers and operators.

Comprising the A318, the A319, the A320 and the A321, the A320 Family is recognised as the technological leader in single-aisle aircraft, with advanced features such as fuel saving wingtip fences, weight-saving composites and the reliability that comes from its modern design and ease of maintenance.

Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE Systems.