Chinese Airlines Poised to Order Hundreds of Airbus Jets

Chinese airlines are reportedly considering placing an order for up to 300 narrowbody and widebody Airbus aircraft, with the potential to increase the order to as many as 500 jets. This move could take place as early as next month, coinciding with an upcoming visit to Beijing by European leaders, according to Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The anticipated order marks a significant step for China’s aviation sector, which has been engaged in on-and-off negotiations with Airbus for over a year. Earlier reports from Reuters in April indicated that these talks are an extension of discussions that began in 2024, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France.

While China has historically timed large aircraft orders with high-level state visits, industry experts caution that negotiations often go down to the wire and may not always result in a finalized deal, especially given the volatility surrounding international trade relations.

However, analysts have pointed out that China is facing an aircraft deficit after having refrained from placing significant orders for more than five years. This gap in the fleet highlights the urgency for Chinese airlines to secure new aircraft to meet growing demand.

Airbus has yet to comment on the potential order, and AirGuideBusiness was unable to immediately verify the Bloomberg report.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=airbus, https://airguide.info/?s=Chinese+airlines

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, bloomberg.com