China Southern Airlines Takes Delivery of 16th Airbus A320; Fleet Grows To 97 Aircraft; Largest in China.

TOULOUSE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 1999--China Southern Airlines (NYSE:ZNH) (HKSE:1055), the largest airline in The People's Republic of China has taken delivery Thursday of its 16th A320 aircraft from Airbus Industrie.

The aircraft delivery in Toulouse marks the 97th aircraft in China Southern Airlines' fleet.

The official delivery ceremony will be held in Toulouse Sunday, Feb. 14. Attending the ceremony on behalf of China Southern Airlines will be Mazhang Han, senior vice president, China Southern Airlines.

The new A320 is part of China Southern Airlines' current 20 Airbus, single-aisle, two-class, aircraft order placed in 1997. The 17th Airbus A320 is slated for delivery to China Southern Airlines on March 12.

With standard seating for 158 passengers in two classes, (eight Business Class and 150 Economy), the A320 has the widest fuselage cross section in its category, offering China Southern Airlines' passengers excellent economics and cabin comfort. The Airbus A320, delivered Thursday, uses two IAE V2500 engines.

Ranked No. 1 in passengers carried for the past 20 years, China Southern Airlines connects more than 90 cities around the globe through 10 regional bases in China. Major business and vacation destinations served in China include Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin and Shantou with international service to Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Singapore, Osaka, Bangkok, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.