Airbus delivers first A350 jet from China plant

Airbus is taking on China as a hub to help build its planes

Airbus has delivered the first A350 widebody jet from its Chinese Tianjin final assembly plant.

The aircraft was made for China Eastern Airlines and the completion further bolsters the manufacturer’s industrial footprint in China relative to rival Boeing.

The work conducted in Tianjin on the jet includes cabin installation, painting, production flight test, and aircraft delivery, Airbus said in a statement.

Airbus has been more aggressive than Boeing in moving parts of its manufacturing process to China

The planemaker has slowly transitioned its manufacturing to the communist nation, with the hope of increasing its share of sales in the world’s biggest market for new planes.

In 2008, Tianjin became the company’s first final assembly line for the A320 narrowbody jet outside Europe, and in 2017 it became a completion and delivery facility for the A330.

Airbus expects to deliver a total of five A350s from Tianjin this year

Airbus has been gaining market share in China as the domestic travel market has rebounded to pre-COVID leves.

Over at competitor, Boeing, the US-based manufacturer is still grappling with Chinese scrutiny over the 737 MAX and the death of orders of the troubled jet.

Boeing waited until December 2018 to open its first completion plant in China at Zhoushan for the 737 MAX, however, due to the model being grounded three months later following a second fatal crash, the MAX is yet to be approved in China.

Airbus gains Chinese popularity

Airbus successfully delivered 99 planes to China last year.

64 more jets were also delivered in the first half of this year despite the global pandemic.