By Lei Yan
Airbus Eyes Expanding Business in China
On Dec. 20, Airbus operated the first dual-test flight in China above its Tianjin plant. Two Airbus A320neos ordered by Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines conducted their test flights at the same time. The operation was supported by Beijing and Tianjin air traffic control centers.
Airbus Tianjin is expected to welcome more soon-to-be-delivered aircraft. A new delivery center for Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 XWBs opened in 2021, and capacity expansions on the Airbus A320 series production line.
Airbus is advancing on multiple fronts to increase its presence in China. Last week, on Dec. 13, during the 8th China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue, leaders from both countries agreed to accelerate the certification of the ATR 72-600. The aircraft is manufactured by the joint venture of Airbus and Aeritalia, an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Eyeing China’s vest regional jet market, the ATR 72 is a competitor in the 70-seat-level market.
Last month, Airbus announced its Tianjin plant would expand and add Airbus A321 production capability. The expansion will complete during the third quarter of 2022. Orders for the A321neo comprise more than half of all orders for A320neo series aircraft.
Airbus Tianjin is the first Airbus aircraft assembly line outside of Europe, and it is also the first modern mainline aircraft assembly line in China. So far, the plant delivered over 500 aircraft to airlines based in the region.
In 2017, Airbus Tianjin constructed a new finishing center for A330s and A350s, and the finishing center expanded Airbus’s deliver-to-door service for Chinese customers into its wide-body aircraft portfolios.
The Chinese market is going to be one of the driving forces of growth in the coming decades. Boeing projects China will need 8,700 new aircraft in the next 20 years.