Airbus has delivered the first A320 aircraft assembled at its Final Assembly Line China (FALC) in Tianjin. The FALC is a joint venture between Airbus and a Chinese consortium comprising Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC). The aircraft was handed over by Airbus president and CEO, Tom Enders, to the chairman of Dragon Aviation Leasing, Li Hai. The aircraft will be leased to and operated by Sichuan Airlines. … [Read more...] about CHINA: Airbus delivers first A320 assembled in China
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CHINA: Airbus in US$3 billion deal with China bank
Airbus has signed an agreement with the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to provide financing to supply 70 A320 jets to mainland purchasers, according to a report in the Financial Times. The total value of ICBC support would exceed US$3 billion. … [Read more...] about CHINA: Airbus in US$3 billion deal with China bank
EUROPE & CIS: Virgin Atlantic orders 10 new A330-300s
British based Virgin Atlantic Airways, has signed a firm contract to buy six Airbus A330-300 long-range aircraft, and is leasing a further four from AerCap. To date, Virgin operates six A340-300s and 19 A340-600 aircraft. Virgin is also a customer for six A380s. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Virgin Atlantic orders 10 new A330-300s
EUROPE & CIS: Paris show ends more upbeat for Airbus than Boeing
Airbus’ chief salesman, John Leahy departed this year’s Paris Air Show slightly more upbeat than he was before about the industry’s outlook and certainly more upbeat than his counterpart at Boeing at the annual event. Boeing managed to bag only one order – a US$153 million deal with MC Aviation Partners, a leasing subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, for two 737-800 narrow bodies. Airbus, on the other hand, walked away from the … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Paris show ends more upbeat for Airbus than Boeing
New Indian MRO JV for narrow bodies
TIMCO Aviation Services and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have entered into a new joint venture agreement focusing on providing scheduled C checks and heavy maintenance services for operators of narrow body Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft in India and the neighboring region. … [Read more...] about New Indian MRO JV for narrow bodies
Possible 2011 ramp-up of A320 production
Airbus COO-customers, John Leahy said recently that the manufacturer may ramp up A320 family aircraft production to 40 per month as early as the end of 2010 or early 2011, a signal that the industry has some confidence in an impending economic recovery. Leahy said that a ‘best case’ outlook saw a 2 per cent year-on-year drop in RPKs this year, 4 per cent growth next year and a 6 per cent increase in 2011, while a ‘worst case’ scenario featured a 4 per cent … [Read more...] about Possible 2011 ramp-up of A320 production