Orders extra 55 Boeing 737s

BOEING and China Southern Airlines announced on Thursday the carrier has ordered 55 additional Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s for its expanding fleet.

At catalogue prices, the order is valued at US$3.8 billion, but the model mix was not disclosed, according to a statement released by Boeing.

The new order of the 55 airplanes will supplement the 129 B737s already in the airline's fleet as well as 14 more B737s yet to be delivered from previous orders.

Collectively, the airplanes will progressively lower the average age of the carrier's fleet - already one of the youngest in China.

"We look forward to placing our new 737s into our expanding network," said China Southern President Si Xianmin. "This order is based on our great experience with the 737, which is highly reliable, highly efficient and preferred by our customers."

"Boeing and China Southern have been working together for nearly two decades," said Rob Laird, vice president of Sales/China, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.