China's HNA emerges as recent buyer of A330neo jets amid revamp: Sources

Debt-laden HNA Group has restructured jet orders with Airbus in a compromise deal that includes an order for dozens of A330neo jets, people familiar with the matter said, amid reports of a wider shake-up at the Chinese conglomerate. Airbus last month announced a surprise order for 40 of its A330neo wide-body aircraft, worth US$12b at list prices, but the buyer's identity was kept under wraps. The sources said the order, dated Dec 23, came from HNA Group airlines and reflected efforts already in place to carry out a restructuring of fleet plans that would see some previously unfulfilled jet orders fall by the wayside. Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that China plans to take over HNA Group and sell off its airline assets as the coronavirus outbreak had further hit HNAs ability to meet financial obligations. <br/>