Boeing and China Southern Airlines finalized an order of 12 787-9 Dreamliners valued at $3.2 billion at current list prices. The new order strengthens China Southern’s expanding long-haul fleet.

“The 787 Dreamliners have helped us to achieve initial success in implementing our internationalization strategy in the past few years and enabled us to make our operation and services more appealing to passengers,” said Tan Wangeng, CEO of China Southern Airlines. “The additional new 787-9s will further increase our capacity and services for our long-haul routes.”

China Southern Airlines, China’s launch customer of the 787, currently operates 10 787-8s. The airplanes have enabled the Guangzhou-based carrier to launch six new non-stop global routes, connecting Guangzhou to London and Rome in Europe, Vancouver in North America, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

“China Southern has been a long-standing Boeing customer and we truly appreciate their confidence in the 787,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Northeast Asia Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 787-9 will help the airline achieve a new level of efficiency and profitability.”