China Southern to Expand Fleet

China Southern Airlines recently announced plans to increase its fleet size to 1,000 aircraft – an increase of approximately 43 percent — the by 2020. China’s largest air carrier by fleet size said it is expected to carry 160 million passengers annually in 2020. 

Earlier last month, China Southern leased a new Airbus A321, bringing its total number of aircraft to 700 and making it the world’s fourth largest airline by fleet size after American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. 

The expansion plans are intended to support the opening of more international routes. 

Currently, 31 percent of the airline’s total passengers are on international flights.