China Southern Airlines has finalised an order, valued at around $3.2bn, for 12 787-9 Dreamliners with Boeing.

With the new order, China Southern Airlines aims to boost its long-haul aircraft fleet.

The airline, current fleet of which includes ten Boeing 787-8 aircraft, has already launched six new non-stop global routes, connecting China’s Guangzhou to Europe’s London and Rome, North America’s Vancouver and other routes in the Oceania area.

China Southern Airlines CEO Tan Wangeng said: "The 787 Dreamliners have helped us to achieve initial success in implementing our internationalisation strategy in the past few years and enabled us to make our operation and services more appealing to passengers.”

The airline, which now operates 700 aircraft, expects to have a fleet of 1,000 aircraft by 2020, with passenger traffic exceeding 160 million per year.

Boeing said that its 787-9 variant complements and extends the 787 family of aircraft.

Featuring a fuselage length of 6m more than the 787-8 aircraft, the 787-9 variant consume 20% less fuel and emits 20% fewer pollution than similarly sized airplanes.

"The 787-9 variant consume 20% less fuel and emits 20% fewer pollution than similarly sized airplanes."

Earlier this month, Boeing won an $11.7bn order for 30 787-9 Dreamliners and ten 777-300ER aircraft from Qatar Airways.

In July, the company also secured an order for six 787-9 Dreamliners from China-based Ruili Airlines.

The order, valued at valued at $1.59bn at list prices, will enable the airline to realise its international expansion plans.

Image: A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner taking off. Photo: Courtsey of Boeing.