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The carrier has been slashing costs and adjusting its route
network after reporting on Aug. 16 its biggest first-half loss
in at least two decades amid stiff competition from rivals.
It announced a non-binding deal to buy 32 Airbus A321neo
aircraft valued at $4.064 billion at list prices on Aug. 21.
That purchase was finalised on Wednesday, according to a stock
exchange announcement.
Cathay also said on Wednesday it would switch six orders for
A350-1000s to the smaller A350-900 model, saving $288 million
based on list prices. The A350-900s will be delivered in 2019
and 2020, the airline said.
Cathay added it would defer the delivery of six A350-1000
aircraft to 2021 from 2020. It did not give a reason for the
switch to smaller aircraft or the deferrals.
An Airbus spokesman confirmed the A321neo orders and the changes
to the A350 order, and said the total number of A350s ordered by
Cathay remained unchanged at 46.
Airlines typically receive discounts on the list prices from the
manufacturers. Cathay said it had received unspecified price
concessions as part of the deal.
The airline announced on Aug. 31 it would fly from its Hong Kong
hub to three new European destinations - Brussels, Copenhagen
and Dublin - using A350-900 aircraft from next summer. It has
canceled flights to Düsseldorf, Germany as part of the network
changes.
The A321neos, to be delivered between 2020 and 2023, will be
operated mainly by short-haul arm Cathay Dragon on routes to
mainland China and elsewhere within Asia, the airline said last
month.
(Reporting by Jamie Freed; editing by Susan Thomas)
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