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Airbus opens final assembly line in China |
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Tuesday, 30 September 2008 |
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Airbus has opened its first final assembly line outside of Europe, in the city of Tianjin, China.
Plane maker Airbus has officially opened its first non-European assembly line in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
The A320 Family final assembly line in China (FALC) is a joint venture between Airbus and a Chinese consortium including Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corporation.
Tom Enders, president of Airbus, explained that the historic opening of the first final assembly line outside Europe highlights the growing importance that the aviation company attaches to its partnership with China, one of the most important future aviation markets.
Huang Xingguo, mayor of Tianjin, added: "The Tianjin final assembly line for Airbus A320 Family aircraft has been set as a paradigm for Sino-European friendship and cooperation."
The FALC in Tianjin is based on the latest state-of-the-art Airbus single-aisle final assembly line in Germany and will deliver its first aircraft to Sichuan Airlines through Dragon Aviation Leasing midway through 2009. By 2011, it will produce four aircraft a month.
Earlier this month, CIT Group ordered a further ten A320 Family aircraft, in addition to those it already has on order. In total, more than 6,300 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold worldwide, 3,500 of which have so far been delivered.  |
