Aircraft

The Tianjin final-assembly line is now scheduled to begin production in early 2009.

The agreement follows confirmation earlier this year from Airbus and China’s National Development and Reform Commission that Tianjin had been selected from a total of four prospective sites in the country as the location for the new assembly line.

Gallois and Chinese consortium representative Feng Zhijiang officially signed the agreement in Beijing today. The Chinese consortium comprises the Tianjin Free Trade Zone, China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I) and China Aviation Industry Corp II (AVIC II).

The contract is subject to formal approval from EADS’s board of directors and the Chinese government. The assembly line is scheduled to begin production in early 2009, with production rates expected to reach four A320s a month by 2011.

“While the aircraft sections will continue to be produced in Europe, the establishment of such an assembly line, which will deliver aircraft to the same standards as those produced in Europe, is beneficial to both China and Europe,” says Gallois. “We look forward to the day when we can deliver the first aircraft assembled in China to this fast-growing and dynamic market.”

Tianjin is located a few hours’ drive from Beijing and is one of only four cities in China that reports directly to the Chinese government at a national rather than provincial level.