Air China Group to Purchase 55 Airbus Aircraft for $12.44 Billion
Air China has announced plans to acquire a total of 55 aircraft from Airbus. The airline, acting as the buyer, along with its import agent, Air China Import & Export Company, will purchase 15 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Separately, Shenzhen Airlines, a subsidiary, will buy 40 A320NEO series aircraft from Airbus. The total value of this significant order, based on Airbus's published list prices, is approximately $12.44 billion (equivalent to 84.51 billion yuan). These new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in batches between 2029 and 2032. The company noted that the actual transaction price will be lower than the listed catalog prices.
This substantial aircraft order by Air China and its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines signals a strategic expansion and fleet modernization effort, anticipating future air travel demand. The significant investment, amounting to billions of dollars, underscores the long-term outlook of major airlines in the post-pandemic recovery and growth phase. The staggered delivery schedule from 2029 to 2032 suggests a phased approach to capacity building, aligning with projected market conditions and the need for fleet renewal. The discrepancy between catalog and actual prices is a standard negotiation outcome in large-scale aviation procurement, reflecting industry norms and buyer leverage.
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