Airbus expanding production work in China

By the end of April 2008, a total of 407 Airbus aircraft have been in service with airlines on the Chinese mainland, accounting for 38 percent of the fleet in service, compared with 29 aircraft, or 7 percent in 1995.

But Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China, has a bigger view of the Chinese aviation market. "We are not only selling aircraft here in China, we are seeking to forge a long-term strategic partnership with China. It's a mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese aviation industry."

Partnership agreements

In November 2005, China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) and Airbus signed a protocol in London with a projected total value of over $500 million to extend their cooperative production of A320 family wing box in China.

In June 2007, Airbus signed a joint venture contract with a Chinese consortium including Tianjin Free Trade Zone, AVIC I and AVIC II for the establishment of an A320 family final assembly line in China. The project is now proceeding on schedule.

In November 2007, Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Development and Reform Commission to formalize the commitment of allocating 5 percent of the A350XWB airframe to the Chinese aviation industry. Airbus confirms its intent to manufacture 5 percent of the airframe of the A350XWB aircraft in China. Airbus will actively involve Chinese enterprises in the A350XWB project to develop the current cooperation and prepare for further possible cooperation programs.

In November 2007, Airbus signed an agreement with AVIC II to develop a new cooperation model to support the A350XWB industrialization. A joint venture manufacturing center is to be established in Harbin by Airbus and Hafei Aviation Industry Co Ltd, a subsidiary of AVIC II, to produce composite material parts and components for the Airbus A350XWB.

Eco-efficient enterprise

Airbus is also committed to providing leadership as an eco-efficient enterprise through ongoing innovation. Determined to lead the move, Airbus has ensured the design and development of future aircraft are eco-efficient, communicating eco-efficiency values into the culture and behavior of the company, and ensuring the concept is embraced throughout the company's supply chain.

In April 2008, Airbus China initiated the first Airbus China Eco-Efficiency Conference calling on its partners and suppliers as well as others in the aviation industry in China to share its vision of a green aviation industry and to join in its efforts to make aviation an eco-efficient industry.

Rainer Ohler, Airbus' senior vice-president in charge of public affairs and communications, said at the conference that "there is not one simple solution, but cross-industry and international cooperation are the way forward".

"China has become an increasingly important player in the world aviation sector thanks to the country's continuous economic growth in the past decades," he said.

"An eco-efficient aviation will help long-term sustainable growth of the industry and China's economy, to which the air transport sector is a strong and indispensable contributor as well," Ohler added. The conference was well represented by the Chinese government and airlines.

In January 2007, Airbus became the first company in the aerospace manufacturing sector to receive ISO 14001 environmental certification covering all the company's production sites and products through their full lifecycle. Airbus uses a robust environmental management system to monitor and minimize the environmental impacts of Airbus processes and products at each stage, proceeding from design, manufacturing, transport, aircraft operations, all the way to the decommissioning, dismantling and recycling aircraft at the end of their life.

Aircraft now entering into service are typically 20 decibels quieter than comparable products some 40 years ago. Fuel consumption has been reduced by 70 percent in the last 40 years and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aviation in 2000 remained stable at 2.2 percent of total man-made CO2 emissions despite air traffic growth. The Airbus vision is for aviation to be emission neutral by 2050.

Airbus' 21st century flagship A380 has a very low fuel burn with less than 3 liters per passenger per 100 km - the figure for a small diesel engine car. This corresponds to less than 75 grams of CO2 per passenger per km, almost half of the voluntary agreement set by the European Automotive Industry Association for 2008.

Through its continuing improvements in environmental management, Airbus has set ambitious objectives for its manufacturing activities. Using 2006 as a benchmark, its objectives for 2020 area 30 percent reduction in energy consumption, a 50 percent reduction in CO2 emissions and water consumption, an 80 percent reduction in water discharge and a 50 percent reduction in waste.

Airbus is preparing to implement the ISO 14001 in Airbus China soon. The Airbus A320 family final assembly line in Tianjin will follow the same environmental management system as its assembly lines in Europe.

(China Daily 05/29/2008 page23)