China Southern Airlines has agreed to purchase 137 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, with 102 destined for its mainline fleet and 35 for its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines. The order, valued at a list price of about $21.4 billion before customary discounts, requires approval from shareholders and government authorities.
Deliveries to China Southern are scheduled from 2028 to 2032, while Xiamen Airlines will receive its aircraft from 2029 to 2032. The deal coincides with delays in deliveries of China’s domestically developed COMAC C919 narrowbody jet. Only three C919 units have been delivered in the first quarter of 2026, including two to China Southern in February and March, and one to Air China in late March.
Observers attribute the C919 slowdown to factors such as engine supply issues with CFM LEAP units and a focus on quality control. China Southern holds at least 100 firm orders for the C919. Meanwhile, Airbus has resumed deliveries to Chinese customers after an administrative delay affected nearly 20 aircraft in the first quarter, unrelated to geopolitical issues.
This order forms part of a broader surge in Airbus narrowbody purchases by Chinese carriers, including recent commitments from China Eastern for 101 A320neo-family jets and Air China for 60.