Airbus has big dreams for unit in Tianjin

Airbus Group SE said it plans to deliver more aircraft to carriers in the Asia-Pacific region from its Tianjin assembly and delivery center, and make the facility an industrial base for the company in Asia.

On Wednesday, Airbus delivered its first European and Chinese-made single-aisle A320neo aircraft, a new fuel-efficient version of A320, to Air Asia from its center in Tianjin. Air Asia is also the largest global customer of Airbus for its single-aisle aircraft.

"Currently, most of the aircraft deliveries from Tianjin have been to Chinese carriers. But we have a clear goal that we would like to make Tianjin a center for Asia, and deliver planes to more foreign customers in the Asian market," said Eric Chen, Airbus China president and CEO.