Speaking at a breakfast briefing in London, UK and Ireland key account manager Dean Saxby said the airline has 26 of the aircraft in its fleet. He admitted the airline had quietly suspended its order for more.
Saxby said: “Out of a fleet of more than 800 aircraft, it [the grounding of the MAX8s] hasn’t made a huge dent.
Saxby added the airline is currently operating more than 840 aircraft, making it the third largest airline in the world.
However, despite the Max issue the airline has ambitious plans to grow the fleet with more than 1,000 aircraft hoped for by the end of 2020, while the airline’s chairman said recently he hoped that number would double by 2035.
Saxby also admitted China Southern is in negotiation with both Heathrow and airlines based there to buy a third daily slot.