Airbus to Build New China Jet Factory as Other Manufacturers Pull Back

Chinese carriers ordered more than 300 narrow-body aircraft from Airbus last year, valued at more than $40 billion before discounts.

(Bloomberg) — Airbus SE will double production capacity in China of its best-selling single-aisle jet in a bet on future demand for air travel and lucrative aircraft orders in one of the world’s biggest aviation markets.

The European plane maker will add a second final assembly line at its existing site in Tianjin under a deal signed Thursday in Beijing by Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury. The move is a confidence boost for Chinese manufacturing as other powerhouses like Apple Inc. rethink production in the nation after three years of harsh pandemic lockdowns and restrictions.