Airbus delivers first A320 aircraft from new Tianjin assembly line

Airbus on Wednesday delivered the first aircraft assembled at its second final assembly line for A320 family aircraft in Tianjin to China Eastern Airlines, marking a major milestone in Airbus' industrial expansion in the world's second-largest aviation market.

The delivery comes as Airbus ramps up A320 Family production globally, targeting a rate of 75 aircraft a month, with the Tianjin facility providing additional capacity and flexibility to support the expansion, the company said.

The new line, inaugurated in October 2025, brings the number of Airbus final assembly lines worldwide to 10, including four in Hamburg, Germany, two in Toulouse, France, two in Mobile, the United States, and two in Tianjin.

Airbus said China is expected to require 8,830 new passenger aircraft over the next two decades, accounting for more than 20 percent of projected global demand of 42,060 aircraft during the 2026-2045 forecast period.

The delivery also highlights Airbus' long-running relationship with China Eastern. The Shanghai-based carrier took delivery of China's first Airbus aircraft, an A310, in 1985.

As of the end of August, China Eastern operates 393 A320 Family aircraft, 56 A330 Family aircraft and 20 A350-900 aircraft, making it the largest Airbus fleet among airlines on the Chinese mainland, according to Airbus.