China Southern Airlines has taken delivery of its 20th, and final, new Boeing 737-700 series aircraft for its expanding operations in Zhuhai in Southern China.

“Title transfer of the aircraft was made on 23 December and we ‘island hopped' this brand new aircraft across the Pacific (California to Hawaii to Saipan) to arrive here Christmas morning,” said Mr. Shen Tai Ran, General Manager of China Southern Airlines' Maintenance and Engineering Department.

The delivery of China Southern's newest passenger aircraft is the last of 20 new Boeing 737-800 and 700 series of “Next Generation” aircraft in deal that was inked on October 3, 2001.

The 20 new Boeing 737 aircraft have replaced the same number of existing 737 series aircraft currently operated by the airline and will significantly lower the average age of the airline's fleet.