China may soon place one of the largest Airbus aircraft orders to date, as European leaders prepare to visit Beijing in July. This potential deal, which remains under discussion, could involve as many as 500 aircraft, comprising a mix of narrow-body and wide-body models. People familiar with the matter shared this information, and the talks remain open and not yet finalized.
The visit will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. As China’s second-largest trading partner, the European Union will send senior leaders to Beijing for the planned summit. According to reports, this upcoming high-level meeting could be used by China to announce the potential order.
In preparation for the event, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng traveled to France last month. During the trip, he met with Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury and several other officials. This meeting added to growing attention surrounding the ongoing discussions between Chinese authorities and Airbus executives.
Airbus may land its biggest order in China
If the new deal is confirmed, it could surpass China’s largest Airbus order to date. In July 2022, four carriers—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines—jointly placed an order for 292 A320 Family aircraft. That agreement was considered one of the largest ever made by Chinese airlines. The current reported discussions suggest the new deal may involve nearly double the number of aircraft.
As of now, Chinese airlines have a combined total of 323 aircraft orders with Airbus. In contrast, Boeing has 139 aircraft currently on order from Chinese carriers. Based on recent trends, Airbus continues to attract more commercial orders from China than Boeing.
Chinese airlines generally avoid revealing their aircraft orders in advance. Many orders are not associated with specific airlines until the aircraft are delivered. This approach creates uncertainty in the public record of sales but remains common practice in China’s commercial aviation market.
Boeing sees weaker performance in China
A major Airbus order would present another challenge for Boeing. The company has not received a large aircraft order from any Chinese airline since 2017. The US-based manufacturer continues to face difficulties in China’s market, with limited opportunities for new deals in recent years.
At one point, Chinese authorities placed a temporary ban on domestic airlines from receiving Boeing aircraft deliveries. Although that ban has now been lifted, Boeing continues to struggle in the region. Observers have noted that decisions on aircraft purchases may reflect broader trade and political tensions between China and the United States.
The Chinese government has remained cautious in dealing with US manufacturers, and aircraft orders may be used as a tool in its ongoing negotiations with Washington. While the final details of the Airbus deal are still being discussed, the timing of the summit suggests the announcement may be made during the July event.
As planning continues, both Airbus and Chinese officials remain engaged in talks. If confirmed, the new order will affect the global aircraft market and shift commercial trends in the years to come.
