West Air takes delivery of first A319neo with DPOS

An Airbus A319neo aircraft equipped with a decentralized pulse oxygen system (DPOS) arrived at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport from Hamburg, Germany on Thursday, to support the ongoing Spring Festival travel rush.

According to its operator West Air, the aircraft is the first Airbus aircraft globally equipped with a DPOS, which enhances the aircraft's safety margins and loading capacity.

The aircraft's arrival also marked the expansion of its Airbus fleet to 45, and will soon enter service on popular tourist routes in Yunnan province, the carrier said.

"This aircraft excels in safety, efficiency, environmental consciousness and exceptional navigation capabilities in challenging flight environments, particularly on high-altitude routes," said Shuai Sheng, president of West Air.

Apart from the delivered aircraft, the Chongqing-based low-cost carrier plans to introduce six more this year.

Operating an extensive network of routes, especially to high-altitude destinations, the airline said it had recently scheduled over 1,000 extra flights on domestic routes. In terms of international routes, it has launched direct flights from Chongqing to Phuket, Thailand and Hanoi, Vietnam; from Zhengzhou and Hefei to Bangkok, Thailand; as well as routes from Lhasa via Chongqing to Singapore. The weekly flight frequency on international routes will exceed 40 flights.

"DPOS guarantees pulse and efficient delivery, while traditional central gas supply systems (CGS) function in constant flow," said Yang Long, an employee with West Air.

Yang said that unlike CGS, which relies on central cylinders below deck and fixed hoses, DPOS utilizes movable containers that can be adjusted to accommodate various configurations, resulting in weight reduction, an increase in cargo capacity and simplified operations.

DPOS demands less maintenance as well. For example, the lifespan of aircraft cylinders in DPOS is 26 years, whereas in CGS it is limited to 15 years.

In addition, with a full economy class cabin layout housing a total of 144 seats, the adjustments in seat spacing, compared to older models, have enhanced passenger comfort during flights.

Chongqing has been enhancing its position as a key aviation hub. In April, the city's government and Liaoning province-based Fangda Group signed an agreement to launch the Fangda Chongqing Aviation City project.

According to public information released by the government, the initiative will incorporate the largest aviation flight training center in the Asia-Pacific region.

The project is expected to see an overall investment exceeding 100 billion yuan ($13.73 billion) over the next five years, creating job opportunities for 25,000 people.