GECAS and Colorful Guizhou Airlines have agreed to a lease agreement for four A320neo aircraft from the lessor’s orderbook, with deliveries beginning in late 2019 and continuing into 2020. Headquartered in Guiyang, south west of China, this agreement marks the airline’s foray as a narrowbody operator.

With a present fleet of nine E190s and following a plan to grow their fleet to 25 aircraft by 2025, Colorful Guizhou Airlines will add greater capacity and range to meet the growing demand.

“To integrate the operation on regional and trunk routes, Colorful Guizhou Airlines will provide the service for passengers in Guizhou and southwest region of China to connect the rest of the country and the world. ” explains LI Shijiong, Chairman of Guizhou Aviation Investment (Group) Co., Ltd and Chairman of Colorful Guizhou Airlines, adding “these A320neo complement our goal of building a sky passageway inside and beyond Guizhou province, and contribute to improving connectivity.”

“We are so pleased to welcome Colorful Guizhou Airlines to the family of GECAS customers and are thrilled they will now operate Airbus’ neo powered with CFM’s LEAP engines,” proclaims Li Liu, GECAS’ EVP & Regional Manager, Greater China. “Understanding the dynamics of the Chinese aviation market, and the role Colorful Guizhou Airlines — the locally-owned airline in the province — plays in China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiatives gave us confidence these aircraft will be put to exceptionally good use.”

The airline, based at Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, Guizhou, is a full-service airline dedicated to connecting Guizhou with other parts of China and the world. Commencing flights in December 2015, Colorful Guizhou Airlines has continued to expand its operations and currently offers flights to more than 30 locations. The airline’s ‘Colorful’ name herald’s the cultural diversity within China’s Guizhou Province.