Wedoany.com Report-Dec.18, Airbus has delivered its 800th A320 family aircraft assembled at the A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in Tianjin Municipality, northern China. The milestone aircraft, an A321neo configured with 12 business class seats and 186 economy class seats, was handed over to Air China.

Established in 2008 as Airbus' first production line outside Europe, the Tianjin FALA currently assembles A319, A320, and A321 models. Over 17 years of operation, it has become a notable example of cooperation between China and Europe in aerospace manufacturing.

The facility delivered its first A320 in 2009, followed by the 500th aircraft in October 2020 and the 700th in July 2024.

George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO, said: "It demonstrates Airbus' ongoing pledge to deepen strategic partnerships in China, reinforcing our 40 years of commitment to the country."

In October this year, Airbus opened a second A320 family final assembly line in Tianjin, marking the second such facility in both China and Asia overall.

Airbus now operates ten A320 final assembly lines worldwide: four in Germany, two in France, two in the United States, and two in China. The Tianjin sites are projected to account for 20 percent of the company's global A320 production capacity.

The A320 family has received over 19,000 orders from more than 300 customers internationally. Airbus teams in China support the global production ramp-up target of 75 aircraft per month by 2027.

Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China indicate that 470 million individuals in the country have flown at least once, an increase of 160 million since 2019, representing the world's largest aviation population.

Xu noted that China has become Airbus' largest single-country market for commercial aircraft. Approximately one-third of Airbus aircraft operating in Chinese fleets are assembled in Tianjin.

In 2024, about 25 percent of aircraft produced in China were delivered to operators outside the Chinese mainland. The stable aviation environment in China enables Airbus to contribute to global supply from its local facilities.

Around 200 Chinese suppliers participate across the Airbus commercial aircraft production chain, from raw materials to system assembly, ensuring components made in China are incorporated in every Airbus civil aircraft.

Airbus projects average annual growth of 5.3 percent in China's air passenger volume over the next 20 years, exceeding the global average of 3.6 percent. By 2042, more than 9,000 of the 40,000 new aircraft required worldwide are expected to be delivered to China.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said: "China's aviation market holds immense potential, and our strengthened industrial footprint here underscores our strong commitment to this market. Airbus is dedicated to continuing our partnership with China, working hand in hand to contribute to the positive relations between China and the European Union."

The Tianjin FALA's consistent output highlights sustained industrial collaboration, supporting efficient production and meeting rising demand in one of the fastest-growing aviation markets.