China Eastern Airlines was behind the only long-haul order for Airbus during a quiet August, but the deal for the single A330 marks the first firm Chinese order recorded by the airframer this year.

Long-haul orders from China, particularly for the A330, had been held up by a dispute over the European emissions-trading system.

But the airframer's latest backlog data, covering the first eight months of 2013, includes a single China Eastern A330-200 order on 5 August.

Airbus added nine other aircraft - all A320-family jets - to its backlog during the month, bringing its gross total to 942 and taking its net figure just above 900.

The single-aisle orders comprised five A321s for lessor CIT and four A319s for customers identified as Texas Aviation Group and OHA Centre Street Aircraft Holdco.

Airbus delivered 394 aircraft over the first eight months, an increase of 30 on the same point last year, including 11 A380s and 70 A330s.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news