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Airbus to deliver 1st China-assembled A320 Tues.

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-22 14:54

BEIJING: European jet maker Airbus says it plans to deliver its first China-assembled jetliner on Tuesday and plans to produce 10 more this year. The plane is the first Airbus assembled outside Europe.

The A320 jet was assembled in Tianjin, east of Beijing, Amelia Xu, an Airbus spokeswoman in Beijing, said Monday. The plane was to be delivered to Dragon Aviation Leasing and operated by Sichuan Airlines in southwestern China, she said.

"We are planning to deliver around 11 A320 jets this year," Xu said.

Related readings:  China Eastern Airlines to buy 20 Airbus A320 jets  Crisis not dampening Airbus China assembly target  Local carriers to get Airbus A320s  Eleven Airbus A320s sold to four Chinese airlines

The aircraft had conducted a four-hour test flight from the Tianjin International Airport on May 18.

China's aviation market is one of the biggest and fastest-growing. Despite financial problems this year for Chinese carriers due to the global slump, suppliers like the Tianjin plant will be able to produce four A320s a month.

Airbus holds a 51 percent stake in the plant, a joint venture between Airbus and a consortium that includes China Aviation Industry Corp., the country's biggest aircraft maker, and the Tianjin Free Trade Zone.