First Chinese assembled A320 with sharklets delivered to China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines and Airbus announced (17-May-2013) the delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with sharklet fuel saving wing-tip devices, becoming China's first carrier to do so. The aircraft is also the first sharklets equipped A320 assembled and delivered in Tianjin. The A320, powered by IAE V2500 engines, features a two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with eight in business class and 150 in economy. The A320 will make its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Dalian on 18-May-2013. China Eastern Airlines VP flight operations Shu Mingjiang said: "As the first and biggest Airbus customer in China, China Eastern and Airbus have long-term good cooperation. China Eastern is honoured to be the first customer of A320 with sharklets in China. In the near future, China Eastern will further expand our sharklet equipped A320 family fleet". China Eastern was the first Chinese airline operating Airbus aircraft in 1985. Now it operates an Airbus fleet of over 230 aircraft including A300s, A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s. Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre has delivered 126 aircraft since Jun-2009 and it plans to deliver 46 aircraft in total in 2013. [more - original PR]