News

START-UP Lhasa-Based Tibet Airlines yesterday signed a commitment with Airbus to purchase three Airbus A319 aircraft. Based on the average list price, the value of the purchase is $223.2 million, though bulk orders often come with discounts.

The single-aisle aircraft will be the first of a planned 20-jet fleet for the Lhasa-based airline, Tibet Airlines, which is scheduled to launch operations in August of 2011.

Tibet Airlines will be the first carrier based in Tibet, and intends to operate flights connecting Lhasa to other regions in the country. State-owned Tibet Investment Co. holds a 51% stake in the carrier, according to China Business News. Airbus is a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co.

The carrier plans to operate the A319s both on routes within the region and to major destinations across China in 2011 and 2012. Tibet Airlines plans to fly directly from Lhasa to South Asia and Southeast Asia in 2013, and operate the direct flight to Europe in the year of 2015 or 2016.

General manager Liu Yanping said the company aims to expand the fleet to 20 aircraft over the next five years. The single-aisle aircraft to be acquired seats 128 passengers in a two-class configuration.

Currently, Air China and China Eastern Airlines serve Tibet from Beijing via Chengdu, as does Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines.

The launch comes at a time when Tibet tourism seems poised for renewed growth with announced openings by Starwood's St. Regis Hotel (November of 2010), Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa (2012) and InterContinental Hotel (first season of 2012).

Source: Tibet Travel News