Hong Kong Dragon Airlines has been forced to delay the delivery of two Airbus aircraft following the slide in passenger demand caused by the Sars outbreak.
'As a result of the current decline in demand for travel, Dragonair is delaying the arrival of two A321s, originally planned for delivery in June and August, until the end of the year,' the airline said.
The world's No 2 aeroplane-maker, Airbus Industrie, declined to say yesterday whether other carriers in the region were following Dragonair's lead.
The Sars outbreak in Hong Kong and China has hit the business and leisure travel sectors, particularly affecting Dragonair's extensive mainland network.
Passenger services have already been slashed across the region.
China Eastern Airlines company secretary Luo Zhuping said yesterday that the carrier was talking to Boeing and Airbus about delaying the delivery of 12 aircraft.