China's aviation market will grow rapidly in the next 20 years, President of Airbus China Guy McLeod predicted Wednesday after Airbus delivered its first A321 to China Northern Airlines.
Guy McLeod said that in the slumping global aviation market following the September 11 attacks in the United States, Airbus still valued China, because not a single Chinese customer asked for a refund or postpone of the aircraft.
China will need 1,600 civil aircraft in the next 20 years, according to official estimates. Airbus hopes to claim half the market, Mcleod said.
Airbus owns two comprehensive subsidiary companies, one of which is in China. Airbus also invested US$80 million to build a customer support and training center in Beijing.
He said that China is the world's fastest-growing aviation market, and Airbus is the fastest-growing aircraft manufacturer.
Airbus will gradually strengthen coordination with Chinese manufacturers to make wing parts, he said.
(China Daily October 25, 2001)
