China’s flagship carrier to buy 60 Airbus planes worth $9.53B

ISTANBUL

China's flagship carrier Air China said on Tuesday night that the airline and a subsidiary have signed an agreement with Airbus to acquire 60 A320neo aircraft in a deal worth around $9.53 billion.

The jets are expected for delivery between 2028 and 2032, Air China announced in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, according to Global Times.

This transaction requires approval from the company’s shareholders’ meeting and must also receive authorization and confirmation from the relevant government authorities.

According to Air China, it is consistent with the company’s development plan and market demand, and will contribute to optimizing the fleet structure and ensuring long-term capacity replenishment.

The announcement comes amid recent Airbus aircraft purchases by other Chinese carriers, including Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines.

In particular, Spring Airlines intends to acquire 30 A320neo aircraft for about $4.128 billion, while Juneyao Airlines plans to buy 25 A320 aircraft for roughly $4.1 billion, based on stock exchange disclosures.

Additionally, China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC) has entered into a firm order with Airbus for 30 A320neo Family aircraft to meet strong customer demand, as reported on Airbus’s official website on Tuesday.