Air China receives the 100th Tianjin-produced Airbus

TIANJIN / Reudelsterz – Air China has received the 100^th Airbus A320 assembled in Tianjin, at the Chinese final assembly line of Airbus. It took less than three years to reach this landmark delivery number, as an Airbus spokesman claimed speaking to the press on the companies' regular press briefing on Thursday.

Tianjin site is the first Airbus final assembly line located outside Europe. It has been established as a joint-venture between the European manufacturer and a Chinese consortium, including Free Trade Zone Tianjin and AVIC company. The first delivery took place in 2009 to Sichuan Airlines. Only the most popular A320 aircraft are assembled in Tianjin. So far only Chinese carriers have received Tianjin-produced A320s.

The Tianjin line has recently come into focus of a political conflict. It has been speculated that China might restrict the site's operations in retaliation for the EU's European Trading Scheme, that obliges all carriers flying to Europe to buy carbon emission permits. China, together with many other non-EU countries, accuse this measure of being disproportionate, unilateral and in violation of international law.

Airbus has recently announced that another A320 final assembly line will be launched in Mobile, Alabama.

AU/Dominik Sipinski/pvk