China to build A320

[G-APDK]

BBC are reporting a deal between Airbus/EADS and China which will see the production in China of 150 A320s commencing in 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6086412.stm

[WHBM]

Presumably this would be when the A320 replacement comes along and would be a way of getting rid of all the old tooling at Toulouse.

I don't understand why the article mentions the Chinese have "ordered 150 737s in recent years" without stating that they have gone for an equal number of A320s as well. The Chinese have been pretty even in their dual sourcing over the years.

[Wino]

Airbus hasn't even started thinking about a 320 replacement yet... So no way they would be shipping tooling out in 2009.

This is more like the McDonald Douglas trunk liner deal that had China manufacturing MD80s, and we know how well that worked out for them .

Cheers
Wino

[captjns]

Are WOKS to be included as part of the galley equipment?

[ORAC]

Assembly, not production - see here.

[panda-k-bear]

Wino, do you mean McDonnell Douglas or are you refering to a special McDonalds version? Have you seen how many A320s Airbus still has to produce? This isn't being done at the end o an airliner programme like the Trunkliner! Toulouse is pushing an A320 out of the door each day. With sales figures like that it's no surprise that they haven't announced a replacement. But if you think that they haven't even thought about it, then I think you're probably deluding yourself. All of the manufacturers are looking at these things all the time and Airbus are no exception (and nor are Boeing, come to that). It's all about the timing!

[cludow]

Chinese A320

The Chinese are just about geared up to assemble A320 wings at a capped Rate 4 per month. Wing equipping will for now remain in the UK though I imagine it won't be long before that goes East as well. The point about A320 shipping at one a day is valid - and one a day is today's rate - that is certainly going to increase. 2012 is the most likely EIS date for A320 "Enhanced wing" which will more than likely be composite. Maybe that will result in the Chinese (or another offset customer) getting the metal wing tooling.
Rumour has it that 787 program is about to cough to a raft of problems and inevitable delays as a result of them - wonder how that might affect a switch to composite for 737, A320's single aisle competitor. Things are getting interesting in large airframes...

[Bus429]

Hey Wino, you still going? I still rmember that rescue mission in Heraklion in 1999; remember, the bleed leak?

[JackOffallTrades]

Jeeeeees. It seems everything is gonna have a "MADE IN CHINA" sticker underneath it soon.

I hope they use better composite materials than they do on their fake brand name golf clubs! The graphite shafts are rubbish!!

[Hot Wings]

"Copy Airbus - only $5!"

[JackOffallTrades]

.... and wee throw in fwee genuine wrolex watch....

[panda-k-bear]

Dragging this back on thread again and away from silly Chinese comments which will result in this ending up in Jet Blast, read Flight this week and look at the A320 section which mentions Airbus projects underway. Something about the replacement is there (NSR or something like that). Still reckon they aren't looking at it?

[Wino]

Panda K,

There was an official announcement about 2 weeks ago (probably in the 380 threads somewhere) that they wouldn't be doing it till about 2015 or so. Why would they? They would simply be competing with themselves! Or are you saying that the 737NG is superior to the 320 now?

BUS429...

Yep... Still going... still flogging the ashes of my career...

Cheers
Wino