Hong Kong Airlines has placed a firm order with Airbus for nine additional A330-300 aircraft. The aircraft will be operated across the carrier’s Asia network and beyond.

“Today’s announcement underscores our plan to operate an extensive regional network in Asia,” said Zhang Kui, president, Hong Kong Airlines. “The A330’s flexibility also allows us to further deploy these aircraft to some long haul routes in the future, and we are going to operate the all-new A350 XWB in 2017 which will open a new chapter of our international operations.”

Hong Kong Airlines currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising of 11 A320s and 22 A330s including five A330-200 Freighters. By the end of 2018, its fleet size will reach over 50 with the delivery of its first A350-900 aircraft.