Airbus-China partnership keeps growing

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 today 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,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO.

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 over 100 seats plus freighters.

The 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. The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient aircraft with best in class operating economics and an average dispatch reliability well above 99 percent. The A330 is part of the world’s most modern and comprehensive widebody product line, which also includes the larger A350 XWB and double deck A380. Together, the aircraft range from 250 to over 500 seats and meet all airline requirements for long haul, medium and regional services.

With some 11,000 Airbus single aisle aircraft sold and over 6,200 delivered today to some 400 customers and operators, the A320 Family is the world’s benchmark and best-selling, most modern single aisle aircraft family.