Airbus has signed new cooperation agreements with Chinese aviation industry partners during a French state visit to China, marking a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two countries. In addition, Airbus also signed a General Terms of Agreement (GTA) with the China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS), covering the purchase of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft, reflecting the strong demand in all market segments by Chinese carriers.
Over the next 20 years, China’s air traffic is forecast to grow at 5.3% annually, significantly faster than the world average of 3.6%, leading to a demand for 8,420 passenger and freighter aircraft between now and 2041, representing more than 20 percent of the world’s total demand for around 39,500 new aircraft in the next 20 years.