Airbus milestones

1985: The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Shanghai Branch receives an Airbus A310 aircraft, marking the debut of Airbus operations on the Chinese mainland.

1994: Airbus China is established.

1997: Airbus opens an $80-million customer services training and support center near the Beijing Capital International Airport, in a joint venture with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Corporation. Airbus China headquarters opens at the same site.

2004: Airbus announces plans to further increase its procurement from China, projected to reach $120 million by 2010, double the target for 2007.

2005: China Southern Airlines agrees to buy five A380s, becoming the first Chinese and 15th customer for the aircraft.

The Airbus (Beijing) Engineering Center, a joint venture between Airbus, AVIC I and AVIC II, is inaugurated in Beijing.

The National Development & Reform Commission of China (NDRC) and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding about the cooperation between the Chinese civil aviation industry and the European company, including the possibility of establishing a final assembly line for single-aisle aircraft in China.

2006: The NDRC and Airbus announces that Tianjin will be the site of an A320 final assembly line in China.

2007: Construction of the A320 final assembly line starts in Tianjin.

(China Daily 03/24/2008 page6)