China Southern places US$1.8bil Airbus plane order

HONG KONG: China Southern Airlines Co, the country's second biggest airline, will buy 10 Airbus SAS aircraft valued at as much as US$1.8bil, helping the European company to narrow the gap with Boeing Co in the world's fastest growing aviation market. 

China Southern signed an order for eight A330-300s and two A330-200 aircraft, which it will use for domestic and Asian routes, Airbus said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and China's Premier Wen Jiabao attended the signing ceremony in Beijing, the Toulouse, France-based aircraft maker said.