Airbus signs fresh deal with Chinese partner amid talk of massive China order
The European aviation giant will work with its partner AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group to start fuselage equipping – installing components onto the front and rear parts of an aircraft – for the A321 at its factory in Tianjin under the agreement.
The programme is an extension of the companies' similar cooperation on the A320 and sends a positive signal in the run-up to next week's summit in Beijing, where some analysts predict Airbus may
sign a 'mega-deal' worth tens of billions of dollars.
'It has expanded the scope of cooperation between both parties in the manufacturing of Airbus single-aisle aircraft, and is also an important measure by Airbus to continuously implement its localisation strategy,' George Xu, CEO of Airbus China, told state media outlet Xinhua News on Tuesday.
'China's supply chain is an indispensable part of the global aviation industry, showing strong resilience and competitiveness,' he said.
The front and rear of the first A321 to undergo fuselage equipping in Tianjin were shipped to the factory at the beginning of the month, and Airbus expects the installation of the components to be completed by October.
The whole process includes incoming inspection, insulation installation, bracket installation, as well as installation and testing of electrical, electronic, drainage, oxygen, flight control and hydraulic systems, according to an Airbus statement published on Tuesday.
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