China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) has signed longterm lease agreements with Air Lease Corporation for five new B787-9s. The US-based lessor said in a press communique that the aircraft are sourced from its Boeing (BOE, Washington National) order book with the first aircraft due during the first quarter of 2019. A total of three jets is expected in 2019 followed by the remaining two in 2020.

In a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange last year, China Southern confirmed this ALC lease as well as another with AerCap for three more B787-9s. The carrier also ordered twelve B787-9s from Boeing in October last year with deliveries due between 2018 and 2020.