HAIKOU– On October 31, 2025, China’s Hainan Airlines (HU) took delivery of its first Airbus A330‑900neo wide-body aircraft, marking a subtle yet significant fleet development for the carrier.
The new aircraft, registered B-32MU, flew from Toulouse‑Blagnac Airport (TLS) to Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), though no formal press release accompanied the delivery. The aircraft reportedly features a 301-seat configuration, comprising 24 business-class seats and 277 economy seats.
Hainan Airlines A330neo: Delivery Details
Hainan Airlines took delivery of its first A330-900neo without the usual fanfare often associated with major wide-body insertions.
Although the aircraft followed the standard presentation of an OEM delivery, neither the manufacturer nor the airline issued a public press statement about the event. Further details about the contractual terms or fleet integration timeline remain unverified.
Notably, the only public hint of this move emerged in a March 2024 regulatory filing, wherein Hainan’s parent disclosed spending approximately USD 24 million with Safran Cabin Germany GmbH on galley equipment for the A330-900neo type.
According to aviation publication One Mile at a Time, it is plausible that:
In June 2023, aircraft leasing firm Avolon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to order 20 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The end customer for those planes wasn’t disclosed, but keep in mind that Avolon is majority owned by an indirect subsidiary of Bohai Leasing, and HNA Group (also the parent company of Hainan Airlines) owns a large stake in Bohai Leasing.
No further cabin interior details of this aircraft have been publicly disclosed either. Meanwhile, there remains no official announcement addressing how many additional A330-900neos the airline may have on order and when further deliveries might occur.
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Fleet Fit and Strategy
Hainan Airlines currently operates a fleet of roughly 220 aircraft, including A320-family, A330-200/-300, Boeing 737-series, and Boeing 787-series jets.
The wide-body A330-200 and A330-300 variants make up around 28 aircraft in the fleet, with average ages near 11 years — meaning they are not especially aged but might benefit from renewal.
The A330-900neo offers higher capacity and improved fuel efficiency relative to its predecessors, and its acquisition aligns with a strategy of refreshing and expanding medium-haul and long-haul operations. Here are the specifications of this plane:
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Max Range | 13,600 km |
| Cruise Mach | 0.82 |
| Maximum Taxi Weight | 253.90 tonnes |
| Max Take-off Weight | 253.00 tonnes |
| Max Landing Weight | 191.00 tonnes |
| Max Zero Fuel Weight | 183.00 tonnes |
| Max Fuel Capacity | 139,090 liters |
Yet given Hainan’s major financial restructuring under its former parent HNA Group, this delivery signals both confidence and caution: confidence in network growth potential, but caution in the lack of official disclosure.
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Bottom Line
Hainan Airlines’ stealth acquisition of its first A330-900neo is one of the more unusual aircraft deliveries in recent years.
While the carrier had signalled a pending order through galley-equipment filings, the absence of a formal announcement suggests this move is being handled quietly.
With only the initial aircraft known and no public confirmation of the full order or delivery schedule, observers will be watching closely for further developments from Airbus and Hainan.
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