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Airbus aircraft in Tianjin, China (archive)
Photo: ROMAN PILIPEY/EPA
The world's largest aircraft manufacturer Airbus sold almost 300 passenger jets in China in one day.
The manufacturer and the airlines China Southern, China Eastern, Air China and Shenzhen Airlines announced bulk orders for a total of 292 medium-haul A320neo family aircraft.
The Dax group scored again against its competitor Boeing from the USA, whose competitor model 737 Max in China was not allowed to take off for a long time after two fatal crashes.
On the stock exchange, the news supported the Airbus share price.
In the afternoon, the paper was up around three and a half percent, making it one of the strongest winners in the Dax.
The latest major orders for Airbus come just weeks ahead of the Farnborough airshow in the UK, where aircraft manufacturers traditionally compete for large orders.
China Eastern Airlines has now announced an order for 100 A320neo jets.
Air China is ordering 64 aircraft in the series and its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines is ordering another 32.
China Southern Airlines had previously announced the purchase of 96 A320neo aircraft.
The company also wants to lease more machines.
Full order books
According to the price list, the Chinese orders have a total value of more than 37 billion dollars (35.4 billion euros).
However, high discounts are common when ordering aircraft.
China Southern Airlines itself pointed out in the notice that the actual price is lower.
The deals are the first major aircraft orders from China in around three years.
Airbus and Boeing have been fighting for dominance of the aviation market in the world's most populous country for years.
Air traffic there continues to suffer severely from the severe restrictions imposed by the corona pandemic.
However, aircraft types that are in high demand, such as the Airbus A320neo, have to be ordered several years in advance, since the manufacturers' order books are full to bursting, especially in this segment - and production is fully booked for a long time.
The jets ordered for China Southern are to be delivered between 2024 and 2027, and the company also wants to lease 19 machines in the series.
Air China expects its new aircraft in 2023-2027, Shenzhen Airlines between 2024-2026.
rai/AFP
