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View Full Version : Airbus lands a massive deal with China


Mike Flynn
26th Mar 2019, 08:01
Smiles all round at Airbus HQ.
Hong Kong (CNN Business)As Boeing struggles with the 737 Max crisis, its big rival Airbus has announced a huge order from China.


The European plane maker said Monday that it has reached a deal to sell 300 passenger jets to Chinese airlines. The agreement was signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to France.
The order covers 290 planes from the A320 family and 10 from the A350 line, Airbus(EADSF (https://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=EADSF&source=story_quote_link)) said in a statement (https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/03/china-and-airbus-expand-their-partnership-in-civil-aviation.html), calling it a sign of strong demand from all areas of China's rapidly expanding aviation market, including "domestic, low cost, regional and international long haul."

The European manufacturer didn't specify the total value of the deal and didn't respond to a request seeking further comment. Based on Airbus' list prices (https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/01/airbus-2018-price-list-press-release.html), the planes are worth roughly $35 billion altogether, but customers typically receive significant discounts from the list prices and can get bigger reductions for huge orders

The deal announced in Paris will include both Neo -- for new engine option -- and so-called classic or CEO versions of the A319, A320 and A321, though the majority will be A320neos and A321neos, according to officials. China typically orders planes in large batches and allocates them to airlines later.
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procede
26th Mar 2019, 08:15
What also helps is that Airbus has an assembly line for the A320 series in Tianjin.

atakacs
26th Mar 2019, 08:15
Was definitely in the pipeline way before the MAX debacle.
I’d venture to guess that those 320 will all be produced in China, with significant technology transfer... probably the last big civilian aircraft purchase for them in all likelihood.

krismiler
26th Mar 2019, 11:37
With development of the Comac C919 lagging behind, this order will fill the gap until their own aircraft reaches the standard of a realistic alternative to western products. Airbus will undoubtedly need to source and produce components in China which will give a lift to their aerospace industry and help it gear up for domestic production.

The C919 is still years away from being a serious competitor on the international market but with the massive growth in domestic aviation it could be a realistic proposition for Chinese airlines, especially if the government "suggests" that they buy it. A version without western equipment could be offered to countries such as Iran which are under sanctions.

HendrikB
26th Mar 2019, 11:40
How does the Boeing plant in China compare to that?

Mike Flynn
26th Mar 2019, 12:02
A drop in the ocean.Little more than a sprayshop and seats.

This order clearly sends a message to the US re the recent trade issues.

Airbus and China are smilling over the 737 Max debacle.

Boeing invested $33 million last year to take a majority stake in a joint venture with state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) to build the completion center, which installs interiors and paints liveries.

industry insider
26th Mar 2019, 12:06
A drop in the ocean.Little more than a sprayshop and seats.

This order clearly sends a message to the US re the recent trade issues.

Airbus and China are smilling over the 737 Max debacle.

Having worked for a US OEM, I used to find it frustrating that the French were always much better at establishing assembly plants in other countries.They don't always end up quite what they was promised but by then its too late and the deal is done. Its all in the marketing.

Mike Flynn
26th Mar 2019, 13:44
Having worked for a US OEM, I used to find it frustrating that the French were always much better at establishing assembly plants in other countries.They don't always end up quite what they was promised but by then its too late and the deal is done. Its all in the marketing.

That last sentence says it all. Aeroplanes are no different to mobile phone or donuts when it comes to accountants and sales teams.

It’s all down to the marketing.

The Boeing investment in China is minimal and would not get you 30% of a 737 Max at list price.

China built and owns the facility at Zhoushan.

Delivery of the first MAX 8, assembled in Renton, Wash. and completed in China, comes 20 months after construction began at the 100-acre site. The 737 Completion and Delivery Center is the first such Boeing facility outside of the United States. The facility has been built in partnership with the Zhejiang Provincial and Zhoushan Municipal Governments and will become fully operational in phases as capacity is expanded over time.

Let’s see how many 737 Max’s emerge from that tiny US investment in China.

This Airbus deal is a political statement to Trump and the USA.

Sqwak7700
26th Mar 2019, 18:16
With development of the Comac C919 lagging behind, this order will fill the gap until their own aircraft reaches the standard of a realistic alternative to western products.

If the Max and 787 debacle are the “western standard”, I hope they aim a little higher.

Andy_S
2nd Apr 2019, 14:55
Yahoo finance suggesting that this "massive" deal has been massaged just a little......

Exclusive: Airbus China order padded by old or incomplete deals - sources (https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-airbus-china-order-padded-old-incomplete-deals-130319791--finance.html)

marchino61
3rd Apr 2019, 00:47
Yahoo finance suggesting that this "massive" deal has been massaged just a little......

Exclusive: Airbus China order padded by old or incomplete deals - sources (https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-airbus-china-order-padded-old-incomplete-deals-130319791--finance.html)

You can always trust a politician to announce the same "deal" multiple times. It's standard practice these days.