Three Chinese airlines have signed contracts for the purchase of 30 Airbus aircraft. China Southern Airlines has signed with Airbus for five A380s; China Eastern Airlines has signed with Airbus for five A319s, 11 A321s and four A320s; Shenzhen Airlines has signed with China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group Corporation (CASGC) and Airbus for three A320s and two A319s, and becomes a new customer for Airbus in China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin attended the signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

As the largest carrier in China, we are pleased to join the list of renowned customers for Airbus` new double-decker. We believe that the A380 will further build our image of reliability, punctuality and efficiency and increase our competitiveness in the global market, said Liu Shaoyong, Chairman of China Southern Airlines Company Limited. We also hope that the acquisition of the A380 will help China become a powerful civil aviation giant.

The largest Airbus operator in China, China Eastern has maintained sound momentum in its development. The purchase of an additional 20 A320 Family aircraft will satisfy the needs of our strategic development and accommodate growing aviation market demand, said Luo Chaogeng, President of China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. He also added that: The introduction of these A319s, A320s and A321s will enlarge our fleet and give a boost to our growth.

Airbus` A320 Family features the newest and most modern design of any single-aisle airliner. We are delighted to become a new customer of the type, said Shenzhen Airlines President Dong Lijia. Our selection of the A319 and the A320 is part of our strategy for future development. The aircraft will help us expand our networks and open high-altitude routes in the future.

This year is the twentieth anniversary of Airbus` entry into the Chinese market. Over the past two decades, Airbus has maintained excellent cooperation with Chinese airlines and government departments, and devoted all efforts to carrying out industrial cooperation with our partners and providing first-class customer services, said Philippe Delmas, Airbus Executive Vice President Government Relations, Communications and External Affairs. With the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus wishes to fly high together with the Chinese aviation industry.

Built to the latest and most stringent requirements, the A380, the world`s first full-length twin-deck aircraft, embodies the most advanced technologies, providing unbeatable operating costs, more range, and greater comfort for passengers.

The A320 Family offers optimum cabin comfort in its class, reflecting a common commitment that is found in all Airbus aircraft. And like all the passenger aircraft that Airbus produces today, it features many modern technology features at no extra charge - such as advanced fuel-saving aerodynamics, including winglets, widespread weight-saving carbon fibre composites, and pilot and maintenance-friendly fly-by-wire controls and centralised maintenance.

Airbus`s business in China has been steadily expanding since it first entered the country in 1985. The Airbus fleet in service in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao has grown to more than 280 today from just 29 in 1995. A world-class training and support centre, which represents a US$80 million investment by Airbus, is fully operational in Beijing. Five Chinese companies are already involved in producing parts for Airbus aircraft.