Airbus sets up its China operation

AIRBUS, starting its first aircraft assembly yesterday outside Europe, said it may buy up to $1bn (€700m) of components from China by 2020, as the world’s most populous nation may need 3,000 planes in the next 20 years.

The world’s largest aircraft maker will be able to assemble four A320s a month by 2011 in Tianjin city. This will bolster procurement from China from last year’s $70m.