From Left to right Laurence Barron, President of Airbus China, Dong Suguang, Executive Vice President Maintenance and Engineering of China Southern Airlines, Charles Champion, EVP Airbus Engineering

China Southern Airlines has taken delivery today of an Airbus A330-200 in a ceremony celebrated at Le Bourget airshow. The aircraft will be on static display at the show today.

Low operating costs, range capability and proven reliability make the A330 the preferred choice for leading airlines like China Southern. The total number of A330s in-service in China amounts 77 aircraft, making it the most popular wide body aircraft in China.

China Southern Airlines, which became in 2005 the first Chinese operator for the A330-200 in mainland China, has an in-service fleet of eight A330-300 and 12 A300-200, including today's.

Executives and crew members of China Southern Airlines and executives of Airbus celebrating delivery of the A330-200 to China Southern Airlines at Le Bourget

To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. Some 790 A330s have already been delivered to 118 customers and operators worldwide.

China Southern Airlines will set another milestone in China when it becomes the first Chinese A380 operator later this year.