Workers at Airbus’s giant Filton, Bristol, plant have received their second boost in two days with a deal to sell 50 short-haul A320 aircraft to a Chinese leasing company.
The contract, worth around £2.2bn, follows yesterday’s announcement of a £4.4bn deal with Philippine Airlines for 54 aircr
aft.
The Chinese order, with ICBC Leasing, was signed as German Chancellor Angela Merkel began a visit to China.
It is the first significant deal in China by Airbus, which is mainly French and German owned, since a dispute between Beijing and the European Union over emissions trading.
The dispute between Beijing and the EU had interrupted earlier deals worth up to $14bn (£8.8bn).
Airbus employs more than 4,000 engineers and support staff at Filton designing wings, landing gear and fuel systems for all Airbus aircraft, including the A320 – a mainstay of low-cost and short-haul airlines.
Engineering group GKN’s aerospace business will also benefit from both deals. It manufactures wing parts for Airbus aircraft on the Filton site.
Industry sources said on Monday that Airbus had hoped to win orders of up to 100 A320 planes, potentially worth $9bn, during Mrs Merkel's visit to China.
