Hong Kong Airlines has taken delivery of its first A330-200 aircraft from Airbus.

The aircraft is the first of 53 aircraft ordered by the carrier. The fleet will eventually comprise 23 A330s and 30 single-aisle A320s.

Hong Kong Airlines president Yang Jian Hong said that the arrival of the A330 was a milestone for the airline as the company expanded into the long-haul market.

The two-class A330-200 airplane has an extended range of 7,250nm at Mach 0.86, and can transport up to 293 passengers.