Bangkok--27 Oct--Centre for Asia Pacific
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation notes Airbus signed its biggest ever order in China — a firm order for 150 A320s and a Letter of Intent for 20 A350XWBs (the latter providing a boost to the under-review programme). The deal is related to the establishment of a final assembly plant in Tianjin, north of Beijing.
"The A320 order will help keep the factory busy from day one, unlike Embraer’s ERJ-145 facility, which struggled in the early phases and only recently received an order for 50 aircraft from Hainan Airlines," stated the Centre's Executive Chairman, Peter Harbison.
According to Mr Harbison, "Airbus needs more capacity for its highly successful A320 programme, as the global LCC sector, as well as strong domestic Chinese and Indian growth, drives strong demand for the type".
Boeing yesterday predicted China’s airlines would acquire 1,840 narrowbody aircraft over the next 20 years (or 64% of total orders).
"The new Airbus Tianjin plant will ensure competition for the remaining 1,690 narrowbody purchases predicted by Boeing in the coming two decades will be intense," stated Mr Harbison.
Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines bounced back from its devastating first half loss, to record a profit in the third quarter. But the result was aided by a USD14 million government subsidy to offset high fuel costs and the carrier still predicts a loss for the full year, in spite of very strong revenue growth and easing fuel prices. China Southern’s third quarter result was positive, due to a stronger yuan and its USD4 million government subsidy in the period, but the carrier declined to give an earnings forecast for the full year.
Note to editors:
About Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation ( www.centreforaviation.com ) is a specialist consultancy group focused on the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region. It provides advisory and information services to airlines, airports, governments, regulatory agencies and suppliers. The Centre’s headquarters is in Sydney, Australia, with regional offices in Singapore, New Delhi, Geneva, Vancouver and Manchester and representatives in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Head Office, Sydney:
Derek Sadubin, General Manager
Aurora Place, Level 36, 88 Phillip St Sydney
PO Box N777, Grosvenor Place Sydney, NSW Australia 2000
Email: [email protected]
Southeast Asia Regional Office:
Alice Goh, Regional Director, Southeast Asia
Email: [email protected]
Indian Subcontinent and Middle East Office:
Kapil Kaul, CEO Indian Subcontinent & Middle East
Email: [email protected]
UK/Ireland Office:
David Bentley, Regional Manager, UK & Ireland
Email: [email protected]
More information is available on the Centre’s website
www.centreforaviation.com