Airbus has acquired a new operator in China with Xiamen Airlines (MF, Xiamen) taking delivery of its first A321-200N from the European manufacturer on New Year's Day. To date, Xiamen Airlines has been a Boeing operator, with 162 aircraft from the US manufacturer now in service.

In an January 1 apron delivery ceremony well attended by Xiamen Airlines, Airbus, and Chinese government officials, Airbus China CEO George Xu said B-32CU (msn 11190) was the manufacturer's first made-in-China A321neo.

"The commissioning of the first A321 aircraft underlines Airbus's commitment to China, and it marks a new milestone in the industrial cooperation with our Chinese partners," he said. Airbus order data shows Xiamen Airlines ordered twenty-five A320-200Ns and fifteen A321-200Ns in September after facing challenges with capacity shortfalls across its existing fleet and long delivery delays at Boeing. ch-aviation fleets data shows Xiamen Airlines currently operates nine B737-700s, ten B737-8s (all inactive), 131 B737-800s, six B787-8s, and six B787-9s.

B-32CU arrives at Xiamen Airlines on lease from CMB Financial Leasing. The remaining Airbus aircraft will be delivered through to 2027. Xiamen Airlines says it plans to start flying its first A321-200N in the northern 2023 spring. The 208 passenger two-cabin class aircraft will initially deploy from its Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport base to Beijing Daxing International, Chengdu Tianfu, and Shanghai Hongqiao.