Sichuan Airlines (3U, Chengdu Shuangliu) has signed agreements with two international lessors for a total of four A350-900s. In a statement, the China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) subsidiary said it had agreed to lease three A350s from AerCap and one from Air Lease Corporation. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year.
As the type's Chinese launch operator, Sichuan Airlines says it plans to use the aircraft to develop a North American route network.
The carrier has already secured US regulatory approval to start regular passenger flights to Los Angeles International as well as Guam International and Saipan.
Currently, Sichuan Airlines' widebody fleet is an all-Airbus operation employing four A330-200s and four A330-300s.
