France-based European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Friday delivered an A319 to Tibet Airlines, making the newly established Chinese airline the newest operator of Airbus in China.

This aircraft is the first out of three A319s ordered by the Lhasa-based airline in May 2010.

Powered by a CFM56-5B engine, the 128-passenger plane will be operated between Beijing, Chengdu and Lhasa, and on other regional routes, reaching China's highest airports, such as the Kunsha airport in western Tibet which stands at 14,000 feet above the sea level.

"We aim to build a regional network covering all civil airports in Lhasa (and) the Tibet autonomous region," said Xu Bo, Chairman of Tibet Airlines.

Airbus China President Laurence Barron said "We are honored that our modern Airbus A319 aircraft will contribute to the development of civil aviation on the Tibetan plateau and we warmly welcome Tibet Airlines as our new operator."

So far, over 85 percent of the commercial flights to and from Tibet are performed with an Airbus aircraft, Barron noted.

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