=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/n/a/2005/09/05/financial/= f220927D90.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, September 6, 2005 (AP) Chinese Airline Signs Deal to Buy 10 Jets By BETH GARDINER, Associated Press Writer (09-06) 04:10 PDT BEIJING, China (AP) -- China Southern Airlines Co. signed an agreement Tuesday to buy 10 Airbus A330 jetliners, a deal worth $1.5 billion at list prices, during visit to China by European leaders. The planes are in addition to four Airbus jets the carrier bought earlier from the European consortium. The announcement came as European officials visited Beijing for a summit aimed at boosting business between the European Union and China. The signing ceremony was attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and other officials. "It is a hugely important deal for Airbus in what is a very important market," said Iain Gray, the British general manager of Airbus. "It builds on the success we've had in recent years." The purchase includes eight A330-300 planes and two A330-200 planes, all to be delivered in 2007 and 2008, Gray said. The list price for the 10 aircraft would be $1.5 billion, but airlines usually negotiate discounts. The price that China Southern will pay for the aircraft wasn't announced. Gray said the airline had not decided which company had not picked a supplier for the engines. The candidates are Rolls Royce, General Electric and Pratt. ----------------------------------------------------------------= ------ Copyright 2005 AP