China gets its first Boeing Dreamliner

BEIJING: China Southern Airlines today became the first Chinese passenger carrier to induct a Boeing 787 Dreamliner - a move aimed at improving the loading capacity on the company's international routes.

The first Dreamliner landed at Baiyun International Airport in the south China city of Guangzhou today.

The 228-seat aircraft will help improve the loading capacity on the company's international routes as well as the service quality, said Tan Wangeng, president of China Southern Airlines.

Chinese airlines have ordered eight Dreamliners and signed deals to buy a total of 100 Airbus 320-series planes for USD 8.85 billion.

The new Dreamliner is expected to serve international routes from Guangzhou to Paris, Vancouver, London or Auckland, state-run Xinhua reported.

So far, China Southern is the only airline operating the long-haul aircraft Boeing 787 and Airbus 380 models.