Chinese operators are to order 70 Airbus A320s following the signature of a general terms agreement with the country’s China Aviation Supplies Holding Company.
The agreement coincides with a visit to Berlin by Chinese premier Li Keqiang.
No engine selection has been given.
Airbus has previously indicated that the visit could also result in a tentative agreement to establish a completion centre for A330s in China.
The airframer already has an A320 assembly line in Tianjin. It views China as a strong potential market for its regional variant of the A330.
Airbus has been seeking to bridge a gap in A330 production between its current line and the A330neo, formally launched earlier this year and due to enter service in late 2017.
The new A320 agreement reflects “strong demand” for the single-aisle type for domestic, low-cost, regional and international operations, says Airbus.
Some 920 A320-family jets and 140 A330s are in service with Chinese operators.
China Aviation Supplies placed an order for 43 A320s and 27 A330s during a state visit by Chinese president Xi Jinping to France earlier this year.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
