Airbus signs agreements with Chinese partners to expand A320 Family assembly and purchase 160 commercial aircraft

(IN BRIEF) Airbus signed several cooperation agreements with Chinese aviation industry partners during a French state visit to China. The agreements include expanding A320 Family final assembly capacity at Airbus’ Tianjin site and signing General Terms of Agreement (GTA) with the China Aviation Supplies Holding Company for the purchase of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft. Additionally, Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China National Aviation Fuel Group to intensify Chinese-European cooperation on the production and application of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). These agreements are expected to contribute to Airbus’ goal of achieving an overall rate objective of 75 aircraft per month in 2026 throughout its global production network.

(PRESS RELEASE) TOULOUSE, 7-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — During a French state visit to China, Airbus signed new cooperation agreements with China Aviation industry partners.

Witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron, Airbus CEO, Guillaume Faury signed with the Tianjin Free Trade Zone Investment Company Ltd., and Aviation Industry Corporation of China Ltd., an agreement to expand A320 Family final assembly capacity with a second line at its Tianjin site. The agreement will contribute to Airbus’ overall rate objective of 75 aircraft per month in 2026 throughout its global production network.

Currently, Airbus has four A320 Family final assembly sites worldwide: Hamburg (Germany), Toulouse (France), Mobile (USA) and Tianjin (China). The Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FAL Asia) started operation in 2008 and has assembled over 600 A320 Family aircraft to date. In March 2023 the first A321neo aircraft was delivered from the line, marking a new era of enhanced A320 Family production versatility.

In addition, Airbus also signed General Terms of Agreement (GTA) with the China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) covering the purchase of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft. The GTA comprises earlier announcements for 150 A320 Family aircraft and for 10 A350-900 widebody aircraft orders, reflecting the strong demand in all market segments by Chinese carriers.

Over the next 20 years, China’s air traffic is forecast to grow at 5.3% annually, significantly faster than the world average of 3.6%. This will lead to a demand for 8,420 passenger and freighter aircraft between now and 2041, representing more than 20 percent of the world’s total demand for around 39,500 new aircraft in the next 20 years.

In line with its sustainability strategy, Airbus and the China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to intensify Chinese-European cooperation on the production, competitive application and common standards formulation for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Earlier in September 2022, Airbus and CNAF contracted to support commercial and delivery flights in China to be operated with SAF. By the end of March, 17 delivery flights and a first commercial flight were facilitated by the two partners. This new cooperation agreement aims at optimising the SAF supply chain by diversifying the sources and enhancing SAF production towards the ambition of using 10 percent SAF by 2030.

“We are honoured to continue our long-standing cooperation by supporting China’s civil aviation growth with our leading families of aircraft. It underpins the positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the Chinese aviation market and the desire to grow sustainably with Airbus’ latest generation, eco-efficient aircraft,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “Airbus values its partnership with the Chinese aviation stakeholders and we feel privileged to remain a partner of choice in shaping the future of civil aviation in China.”

Airbus entered the Chinese market nearly 40 years ago, in 1985, when an A310 was first delivered to China Eastern Airlines. By the end of the first quarter 2023, the Airbus in service fleet in China has risen to over 2,100 aircraft, representing more than 50 percent of the market.

@Airbus #AirbusChina  #SAF

Media Contact:

Stefan Schaffrath
Head of External Communications – Airbus Commercial Aircraft
Phone: +33 6 16 09 55 92
stefan.schaffrath@airbus.com

Justin Dubon
External Communications – Airbus
Phone: +33674974951
justin.dubon@airbus.com

Daniel Werdung
External Communications – Airbus Commercial Aircraft
Phone: +49 160 715 8152
daniel.werdung@airbus.com

Amelia Xu
External Communications – Airbus China
Phone: +86 1381 077 6747
amelia.xu@airbus.com

Chengcheng Wang
Airbus China
Phone: +86 10 8047 5301
chengcheng.wang@airbus.com

Ning (Kevin) Jia
External Communications – Airbus China
Phone: +86 10 8047 5018
ning.jia@airbus.com

SOURCE: Airbus