Air China orders 55 Airbus jets in $12.4 billion deal

Air China and its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines have placed an order for 55 Airbus aircraft with a combined list price of $12.4 billion, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange disclosed on Friday.aol+1

The deal includes 15 A350-900 widebody jets for Air China and 40 A320neo family narrowbody planes for Shenzhen Airlines, Bloomberg reported. The order cements Airbus's dominant position in the Chinese market as the European planemaker continues to win large contracts from the country's state-owned carriers.aol

A Wave of Chinese Airline Orders

The purchase is the latest in a series of large-scale fleet commitments by Chinese airlines to Airbus over the past year. In late December 2025, Air China signed a separate agreement to buy 60 A320neo aircraft valued at approximately $9.5 billion, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2032. In April 2026, China Southern Airlines and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines ordered 137 A320neo family jets for $21.4 billion. China Eastern Airlines followed in March with a 101-aircraft deal.yenisafak+3

Collectively, Chinese carriers have committed to more than 350 Airbus single-aisle aircraft in recent months, with a combined catalog value approaching $55 billion.people

Shenzhen Airlines Fleet Expansion

Shenzhen Airlines has been undergoing a broader transformation backed by Air China. The subsidiary recently took delivery of its first A350-900 in late June, marking its entry into widebody operations. Air China is contributing five A350-900s to Shenzhen Airlines as part of a capital increase worth 16 billion yuan ($2.4 billion), aimed at reducing the subsidiary's debt burden and supporting fleet renewal.airinsight+2

The 40 additional A320neo narrowbody jets ordered Friday will further expand Shenzhen Airlines' capacity as it builds up Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport as a hub serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.airinsight

Airbus's China Foothold

The orders reflect Beijing's continued reliance on Airbus for fleet growth, even as discussions about a potential return of Boeing The Boeing Company ↘ 0.70% 737 MAX orders to Chinese airlines have persisted. Airbus operates a final assembly line in Tianjin for A320 family aircraft, giving it a manufacturing presence that has helped solidify commercial ties with Chinese carriers over more than a decade.instagram+1