• Chinese operator, Loong Air, has taken its maiden Airbus A321neo after the European-built jet arrived at the firm’s Hangzhou/Xiaoshan home base in mid-August. The two-class, 210-seat airframe, B-323U (c/n 10428) – on lease from AerCap – was pictured above at Airbus’ Hamburg/Finkenwerder plant on August 2, carrying out engine and taxi checks. After performing its first flight the day after, the CFM International LEAP-1A-equipped A321 was handed over to Loong Air on August 13 after a ferry flight via Novosibirsk, Russia.