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150 Airbus Jets Ordered

150 Airbus Jets Ordered

China ordered 150 Airbus single-aisle passenger jets on December 5 in a deal worth US$9.7 billion at list prices, giving the European industry a boost during a visit to France by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, China Daily reported.

Top French and Chinese aviation officials signed this deal along, with several other industrial orders, following talks between Wen and his French counterpart Dominique de Villepin.

The other agreements included a deal between China and Eurocopter, the world largest civilian helicopter maker, to produce a six-ton helicopter, and a 150-million-euro Chinese order for a high-speed Shitai railway link.

Both Airbus and Eurocopter are subsidiaries of EAD, a European aerospace firm.

China also ordered a telecom satellite from Alcatel Alenia Space.

The jet deal came a day after Airbus agreed with Wen to look at expanding the assembly lines for single-aisle aircraft outside Europe for the first time by building a site in China.

The A320 family of single-aisle jets comprises four aircraft capable of seating 107 to 185 passengers.

In a related news: East Star Airlines, China's fourth registered private airline, signed a letter of intent with Airbus to buy ten A320s and a lease deal with GE Commercial Aviation Service (GECAS) for another ten A320s on November 27, according to China Daily.

The deals are the largest single orders Airbus and GECAS have signed with any Chinese private airline.