China’s Suparna Airlines has signed a contract with SPDB Financial Leasing to lease 30 domestically built C919 jets from COMAC. The agreement was signed in Hainan where HNA Group’s headquarters are located.
HNA is the parent company of Suparna Airlines owing 85% shares.
The addition of 30 new C919 jets is considered to be a huge step for Suparna Airlines which currently operates a fleet of eight Boeing 737-800 jets and two 787-9 Dreamliner and three 747-400F.
The C919 entered service in May with China Eastern Airlines, so far, the only carrier to have the aircraft in its fleet. By the end of May, the COMAC jet had received 1,035 orders from local and foreign companies. For now, one plane is in service and the second is being prepared for delivery to China Eastern, which has ordered five aircraft of the type.