China’s CAS signs GTA with Airbus for 60 aircraft

Eco-efficient Airbus aircraft support fast growing Chinese civil aviation 

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) has signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the purchase of 60 Airbus aircraft, which includes 42 A320 Family aircraft and 18 A330 aircraft.

The GTA was signed today at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by Li Hai, President and CEO of CAS and Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus in the presence of the visiting French President François Hollande and the Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was part of a series of France-China agreements signed today.

“We are delighted to receive a new order from our long-standing customer CAS for both the Airbus best-selling single aisle A320 Family and wide-body A330 Family,” said Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus. “The A320’s high reliability and low operational cost has made it very popular with Chinese airlines. As congestion puts pressure on airports in large cities in China, the A330 is an excellent solution as larger aircraft can transport more passengers with less flights. The comfort of the A330’s spacious cabin is also appealing to passengers. These eco-efficient Airbus aircraft will contribute to the growth and success of China’s aviation sector,” said Fabrice Brégier.

By the end of March 2013, there were some 750 A320 Family aircraft in operation with 14 Chinese airlines and more than 110 A330s in operation with six operators.

More than 9,400 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,500 delivered to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft Family. With 99.7 per cent reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,200 orders, with around 900 aircraft flying with some 90 operators worldwide. Ever since the original version of the A330-300 entered service, the hallmark has been its very efficient operating economics. Thanks to the introduction of numerous product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft in its class and the family is achieving average dispatch reliability above 99 percent

Airbus