Construction of Airbus' first aircraft final assembly line
outside Europe kicked off in Tianjin yesterday.
The factory, which will start assembling the popular A320 family
jet next summer, will be operated by a joint venture to be launched
next month. It will be 51 percent controlled by Airbus. A
consortium of Chinese enterprises, including China Aviation
Industry Corp (AVIC) I and AVIC II, will hold the remaining
shares.
The plant is expected to deliver the first A320 in the first
half of 2009 and be able to assemble four jets per month in
2011.
"I believe this project will not only enhance the further
development of the aviation industries of China and the European
Union, but also help promote Sino-EU economic and trade
cooperation. It provides a win-win result and represents a new
achievement of the China-EU strategic partnership," State Councilor
Tang Jiaxuan said at the groundbreaking
ceremony.
The project, occupying about 600,000 sq m of land, includes
assembly workshops, a paint shop and outdoor facilities. An
aircraft delivery center wholly owned by Airbus will also be
constructed. The main body of the factory will be completed by the
end of this year.
"The new top management of Airbus fully backs this very
important development of our presence in this country. We are
determined to do everything in our power to ensure the aircraft
assembled in Tianjin will be delivered on time and to the same
quality standards as those delivered in Toulouse, France, and
Hamburg, Germany," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus chief operating
officer (COO). Bregier became Airbus COO last November, shortly
after the appointment of new Airbus president and CEO Louis
Gallois.
The Tianjin project is a strategic part of Airbus' plans to ramp
up production of A320s from 32 jets per month to 36 by the end of
next year to meet the strong demand for the aircraft.
The single-aisle A320 family aircraft is the company's most
successful model. It has received more than 5,000 orders and has a
backlog of over 2,000 jets. China has more than 370 A320 family
jets on order and now operates over 270, accounting for more than
80 percent of Airbus' total fleet in the country.
Airbus declined to specify the total investment in the project.
It was reported earlier that it would cost 8 billion to 10 billion
yuan.
The factory, located in the Tianjin Binhai New Area, is 30 km
from the Tianjin Port and 13 km southeast of the northern coast
city's downtown.
(China Daily May 16, 2007)
