A package of orders for 28 Airbus aircraft for Chinese carriers was announced by French president Jacques Chirac in late October, while hosting a visit by China's president Jiang Zemin.
Although Chirac revealed that the deal includes eight A340-500/600s, 10 A318s and 10 A319s, details such as the identity of the airline customers were not disclosed. The announcement confirms a series of deals reported over recent months, including orders placed directly with Airbus and contracts with leasing companies. Flight International understands the package includes:
• eight Pratt & Whitney PW6000-powered A318s for Beijing-based Air China, plus two options, with deliveries from 2003;
• 10 CFM International CFM56-powered A319s for Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (CEA), which are part of a previously reported deal with leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services. Deliveries will begin in the second half of next year.
• eight Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340-500/600s for CEA, including four -600s for delivery from 2002 on lease from International Lease Finance, along with four -500s to be ordered directly from Airbus. The deal is also understood to include a further three -600 options.
The total value of the package, based on list prices, is more than $2 billion.
Source: Flight International
