Loong Air Receives Its 9th A320 Airliner

Zhejiang Loong Airlines (GJ) took delivery of a brand new Airbus A320 airliner at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) on September 10, which is the Hangzhou-based carrier's ninth A320 aircraft.

Equipped with sharklets and CFM-56 engines, the newly-received A320 aircraft -- Registration B-8146 -- is configured with 174 all economy seats (including premium economy class). Sharklets can reduce fuel cost by about 4% on long-haul flights, not only promoting the aircraft's takeoff performance, obstacle clearance and climbing capacity, but also ensuring the aircraft's in-flight safety.

The newly introduced aircraft expands the carrier's fleet size up to 12. According to the fleet introduction plan, the Hangzhou-based carrier will expand its fleet to 16 by the end of 2015, with two A320s and two Boeing 737Fs pending delivery.

The Hangzhou-based carrier plans to launch the Hangzhou-Shijiazhuang-Lanzhou service with the delivery of the new A320 jetliner. What's more, international and regional services are also planned to commence within this year.