China Considers Massive Airbus Aircraft Deal
China is reportedly weighing a major aircraft order with Airbus that could include up to 500 jets, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The potential deal, which may be announced during a July summit with European leaders in Beijing, would mark one of the largest aircraft orders in aviation history and could include both narrowbody and widebody models.
The summit will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, its second-largest trading partner. While discussions are said to be ongoing and not yet finalized, the timing of the potential announcement suggests a move to strengthen economic ties with Europe amid ongoing tensions with the United States.
China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng recently visited France and met with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, further fueling speculation about a high-volume order. Airbus currently has 323 aircraft on order from Chinese carriers, compared to just 139 with Boeing, which has struggled to recover its position in the Chinese market due to political tensions and trade restrictions.
In 2022, China’s largest Airbus deal saw Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shenzhen Airlines order 292 A320 family jets. A new deal approaching 500 aircraft would surpass that milestone and significantly boost Airbus’s global order book.
While Airbus continues to expand its footprint in China, Boeing remains sidelined, having faced a freeze on new aircraft deliveries to Chinese carriers until recently. Industry analysts say aircraft deals are increasingly being used as geopolitical tools in China’s trade strategy.
Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com