China Southern, the country's largest airline, said Tuesday that it would purchase six Boeing B777F cargo planes.

In a statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange, the carrier said the deal was "consistent with the (airline's) development strategy."

The new aircraft will boost the carrier's cargo capacity, measured in available tonne kilometres, by 8.4 percent and enhance its operational efficiency, as well as the competitiveness of its cargo business, said the statement.

The catalog price for each Boeing B777F is US$264 million, but the US aircraft maker has granted "certain price concessions," according to the statement, without revealing details.

The purchase is expected funded by bank loans and China Southern's operating fund, the company said.