By Rebecca Rayko,
AWN Editor

Hong Kong-based Dragonair signed a contract at AA 2000 for five firm Airbus A320 family aircraft and one widebody Airbus A330-300.

Dragonair also placed options for two A330s, and will acquire one more A330-300 and one A321 under a lease agreement with International Lease Finance Corp.

The order is the biggest one in the airline's history, said Dragonair chief executive Stanley Hui.

Speaking at a signing ceremony in Singapore today, Hui said the decision to buy more new aircraft reflects the return to strong growth in the regional air transport market.

The aircraft will begin to arrive in Hong Kong later this year, with the ILFC A321, followed in the second quarter of 2001 by the firmly ordered and ILFC A330-300s.

The newly ordered A320 family aircraft will be delivered between 2003 and 2005.