Airbus opened a second assembly line in Tianjin, China, on October 22, increasing its manufacturing capacity for the A320neo family model of single-aisle jets. Preparations to assemble the first aircraft are underway, and full operations of the facility are targeted for early 2026.
This comes just over a week after Airbus opened a second assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.
A welcome addition to the Airbus’ global network
Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, has said:
“We welcome the addition of Tianjin’s second line to our global production system, as it provides us with the necessary flexibility and capacity to deliver on our plan to assemble 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2027. Over the past 40 years of our presence here in the country, we have come a long way in establishing trustful partnerships with the China civil aviation community, and we look forward to writing the next chapters of our future together.”
To mark the celebration, Faury attended an opening ceremony at the Tianjin factory that featured giant European Union and Chinese flags.
More growth in production
The new line will enable Airbus to increase production close to its customers in China and beyond. It’s a significant addition to the global Airbus production network consisting of ten Final Assembly Lines: four in Hamburg, Germany, two in Toulouse, France, two in Mobile, USA and now two in Tianjin, China.
The second line assembly also features Airbus’ latest technologies and processes to produce aircraft worldwide in line with the company’s high standards. In environmental terms, the facility takes advantage of electricity from renewable sources, reclaimed water and geothermal energy to support Airbus’ sustainability plans and reduce their carbon footprint.
Airbus initiated its operations in China in 2008, with Tianjin FAL being the first Airbus production line for commercial aircraft outside of Europe. Since then, it has assembled and delivered over 780 A320 Family aircraft.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of cooperation between Airbus and China’s civil aviation sector, when the first Airbus aircraft (an A310) was delivered back in 1985.
You can find out more Airbus articles by Travel Radar here.
What do you think of Airbus and the opening of their second assembly line in China? Let us know in the comments.
