Airbus is hoping to clinch one of its biggest Chinese orders by value next week as it enters the final stage of a two-year negotiation over the sale of up to 70 A330 wide-body jets.
If the contract is signed when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stops off in Toulouse next week, Airbus would be close to securing the orders it needs to keep its production line running while it makes the transition from the existing A330 to a new re-engined version due to enter service in 2017. Bridging that gap is crucial to managing production costs and retaining skills.
The Chinese government is understood to be discussing an order of between 50 and 70 A330 aircraft, including the regional version of the twin aisle jet, worth up to $17.8bn at brochure prices.
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