China Southern Airlines has received its first Airbus A321neo, the first Chinese airline to do so.

Irish leasing company AerCap confirmed delivery of the first aircraft type into China for the Guangzhou-based carrier, which already has 303 Airbus aircraft in its fleet (121 A320ceo, 99 A321ceo, seven A320neo and five A380s).

The airline was also the first operator in China of the A320neo, and has eight Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-engined A321neos on order from lessor AerCap, all due for delivery before the end of the year.