Airbus hopes the plant in Tianjin will deliver a big advantage over arch rival Boeing. The latter makes components in China, but Airbus is the first to have a full production facility in the country, as it vies to meet fast-growing Chinese demand for commercial aircraft. The plane was delivered to leasing firm Dragon Aviation, and will be used by Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines.
Airbus plans to deliver nine more planes from its Chinese plant by the end of the, with production expected to increase to four aircraft per month before the end of 2011. The plant is 51% owned by Airbus, with the remaining 49% owned by a Chinese aviation consortium.
China is now the world's second-largest market for commercial aircraft and is expected to buy up to 2,800 passenger planes over the next 20 years. And if you believe that, you're a nutter! Airbus has already had espionage problems at the factory. There is no way the Chinese are not trying to steal every piece of IP they can lay their hands on. Airbus has not only ruined the market for Boeing - they shot themselves in the head. In the next 20 years China will be a net exporter of planes, and Airbus and Boeing - who knows?
In other news --
- China's EA-6B
- Hong Kong Air selects OnAir
- Hot Virgin rumor - good bye 787?
- Republic east Midwest - with nary a burp
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