China Southern Air Cargo (CZ, Guangzhou) has placed a direct order with Boeing for two B777-200Fs and five B777-8Fs, becoming the first confirmed Chinese customer for the latter type. Parent China Southern Air Holding disclosed in a stock market filing that the commitment also includes three options for additional B777-8Fs.
The airline expects the deliveries of the aircraft between 2027 and 2034. The options have a 36-month advance notice for conversion into potential firm orders.
The parent holding said that the aircraft will allow China Southern Air Cargo to "capture new opportunities" based on the expected growth of the cargo market, but did not clarify whether all will be for growth or also for fleet renewal.
China Southern Air Cargo currently operates eleven B777-200Fs, which are 10.3 years old on average. Its sister company, China Southern Airlines, despite being predominantly a passenger airline, also operates eight B777-200Fs. Besides the two China Southern Air Holding subsidiaries, five other mainland Chinese airlines operate B777-200Fs, including China Cargo Airlines with 20 units of the type in its fleet.
