Airbus and Chinese aviation company sign deal for 75 jets

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company has signed a deal with Airbus for 45 A330 aircraft, the Chinese company has also taken options for 30 more A330s.

The deals were signed today in Paris by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO and Li Hai, President and CEO of CAS in the presence of visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

“The package order is a new vote of confidence in our A330 Family aircraft, which is already the most popular wide-body aircraft in China,” said Fabrice Brégier. “China is today the most important market for aviation in the world, we can be confident that air transport in China will continue to undergo rapid growth. We are honoured to contribute to this development.”

According to Airbus’ market forecast, China will become the leading country for passenger air traffic, for both domestic and international markets, as passenger traffic in the country grows well above the world average.

Domestic air traffic in China will become the world’s number one within 10 years. In the 20 year period between 2014 to 2033 Airbus forecasts a demand in China for more than 5,300 new commercial passenger aircraft sized over 100 seats plus freighters.

At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises over 1,150 aircraft.

The booming far east markets were largely responsible for sales worth an estimated $57 billion, 421 aircraft at the recent Paris Airshow.