Airbus SE won a significant order from Air China for 15 A350-900 widebody aircraft and 40 A320neo series jets for its Shenzhen Airlines subsidiary, valuing the transaction at approximately $12.4 billion. The deal reinforces the European planemaker's dominant position in the Chinese aviation market, where it has consistently outperformed rival Boeing in recent years.

The A350-900s will support Air China's long-haul expansion strategy, offering improved fuel efficiency and passenger capacity for international routes. Meanwhile, the A320neo family aircraft destined for Shenzhen Airlines will modernize the carrier's single-aisle fleet for domestic and regional operations across Asia.

Industry analysts view the order as a strong vote of confidence in Airbus's product lineup amid China's accelerating air travel recovery. The Civil Aviation Administration of China projects passenger traffic to surpass pre-pandemic levels this year, driving fleet renewal demand among the country's major carriers.

Airbus delivered 63 aircraft to Chinese customers in the first half of 2024, maintaining a delivery lead over its American competitor. The latest commitment brings Airbus's order backlog from Chinese airlines to over 300 jets, underscoring the strategic importance of the world's second-largest aviation market.