Chongqing Airlines (OQ, Chongqing) has expanded its fleet of eight A319-100s, ten A320ceo, and nine A320-200neo to include its first A321-200neo(LR).
ch-aviation analysis of AirNav Radarbox data shows B-30E3 (msn 8993) was ferried from Hamburg Finkenwerder to Chongqing via Nur-Sultan over the course of December 30/31.
Powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, the twinjet is the first Airbus Cabin Flex-configured A321neo in China and features a total of 208 seats, of which 8 are in business class, 24 are in premium economy class, and 176 are in economy class.
B-30E3 is the first of three A321neo(LR)s Chongqing Airlines will take from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) during the first half of 2020 and the first of two to be leased from ICBC Financial Leasing. According to a carrier statement, it will deploy the type on high-demand, trunk routes connecting Chongqing to Beijing and Shenzhen.
Overall, Chongqing Airlines is planning to expand its fleet at a rate of 5-9 aircraft per year to cater to growing demand in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Chongqing Airlines serves 44 cities across China, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Macao, and Singapore from its main hub in Chongqing and overnight bases in Wuhan and Guangzhou.