Manufacturer hopes order will be announced during French president Jacques Chirac's visit to China next month
Airbus is hoping to secure its first Chinese order for the A380 with a long-sought-after commitment for at least five aircraft. It is also negotiating follow-on Airbus A330 deals with Chinese airlines.
Industry sources say a provisional deal is being worked on that may enable an A380 order announcement during a scheduled visit to China by French president Jacques Chirac on 8-12 October.
During that visit, a new order for A330-200s for Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines could also be announced, say the sources, adding to four twinjets ordered by the carrier last year (Flight International, 29 April-5 May 2003). An A330 order for Beijing-based Air China is also possible, the sources add, which would make the flag carrier a new operator of the type.
Chirac will be visiting Vietnam before travelling to China and a planned Vietnam Airlines order for 10 A321s is due to be formalised.
China's leadership likes to announce major deals for foreign-made goods during high-level political visits. But because of the political nature of the proposed A380 deal, sources say it may remain unclear until just before Chirac's visit whether the authorities will agree to an order announcement.
Airbus officials have said repeatedly they hope the first Chinese A380 order will be secured before the end of this year. The manufacturer has discussed potential deals with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern and Hainan Airlines.
If it goes ahead, the A380-800 portion of the deal is likely to be for five to 10 aircraft, the first of which would be delivered before the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Air China and China Southern are considered the most likely future operators of the type.
Air China is currently the only Chinese operator of Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft.
NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
