China Aviation Supplies to buy 70 A320 aircraft

Toulouse, France – China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) and Airbus officials have signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) for the purchase of a total of 70 Airbus A320 family aircraft. The GTA was signed by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO and Li Hai, president of CAS.

 

“We are grateful to China for its strong vote of confidence in our leading A320 family aircraft, and are happy to see them assembled at our Chinese facilities,” said Fabrice Brégier. “Our 30 year history of partnership with China keeps growing and expanding through these types of agreements.”

 

At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises over 1,000 aircraft (around 140 A330 family and over 920 A320 family aircraft). In the 20 year period between 2014 to 2033 Airbus forecasts a demand in China for more than 5,300 new commercial aircraft with more than 100 seats, plus freighters.

 

Today more than 900 in service A320 family aircraft operate with 16 Chinese carriers and over 190 A320 Family aircraft have been assembled and delivered from the FALC in Tianjin. The A320 family has more than 11,000 orders to date and over 6,200 aircraft delivered. 

 

In related news, Airbus and its Chinese partners (the Tianjin Free Trade Zone [TJFTZ] and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)), have re-confirmed their intention to set up an A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China, by signing a Letter of Intent (LoI). This follows the successful establishment of an A320 Family Final Assembly Line and Delivery Center in the Chinese city and takes into account the need to support the fast growth of air traffic in China with larger aircraft. 

 

The LoI was signed by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO, Feng Zhijiang, president of the TJFTZ and Lin Zuoming, president of AVIC representing the Chinese parties, in Berlin, Germany, witnessed by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin (C&DC Tianjin) will likely cover activities such as cabin installation, aircraft painting, engine runs, and aircraft delivery. The aircraft would first be assembled in Toulouse and then fly to China for their completion in Tianjin. 

 

“In its 30 years history the Airbus partnership with China keeps on growing and expanding. The intended establishment of an A330 Completion and Delivery Centre will add a new exciting chapter to our longstanding track record of mutual achievements,” Bregier said.

 

The widebody A330 family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, has now attracted more than 1,300 orders, with over 1,000 aircraft flying today with more than 100 operators worldwide.