China Southern Airlines to buy 12 Boeing jets worth about $3b

China Southern Airlines has signed an agreement with Boeing to buy a dozen B787-9 jets worth $3.3b in the latest sign of booming Chinese demand for air travel. Each of the 12 mid-size jets comes at a catalogue price of $271 million, the Guangzhou-based airline said on Wednesday, adding that the aircraft will be delivered in stages from 2018 to 2020. "The acquisition will strengthen the construction of Guangzhou hub, thus maximizing the operational efficiency and enhancing the competitiveness of the group," China Southern said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. China Southern's deal follows similar fleet expansion moves by rivals such as Air China and China Eastern Airlines.<br/>