Hong Kong Air Seeks A380 Order Swap for Smaller Aircraft

Hainan Airlines’ subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines is considering changing out its Airbus A380 orders in favor of the A330 and delaying the A380 delivery date.

The airline is reevaluating its A380 orders due to a decline in market demand, especially on its long-haul routes. The carrier suspended its all-business class flights on Hong Kong-London routes Sept. 10.

Hainan Airlines Group chairman Chen Feng said the company is in negotiations with Airbus but no final decision has been made.

Hong Kong Airlines placed an order for 10 A380s last year, which are scheduled to be delivered from 2014.

The Chinese government reportedly blocked the order earlier this year, in part to express its disapproval of Chinese carriers' inclusion in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which has been suspended one year to allow time for ICAO to finalize a global scheme.