Airbus Aims to Achieve at Least 50% Market in China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 01, 2002

Airbus Aims to Achieve at Least 50% Market in China

A senior manager from Airbus has affirmed that his company aims to achieve at least 50 percent market share in China although it only enjoys 24 percent at present.
Airbus wants to work with Chinese airlines and authorities not only in selling aircraft but also working with China's aviation industry, citing the production of wings of Airbus 320 in China.

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China to Be Second Largest Market in the World

"We see China over will be the second largest market in the world after the United States over the next 20 years and Airbus in China should obtain at least 50 percent of its market share as same as Airbus aims in the rest of the world," Guy Mcleod, President of Airbus Industries China Limited, said in an interview during the Asian Aerospace 2002 ongoing in Singapore.

"When we looked at its leadership and stabilizing influences on Asia and the whole world during the Asian crisis and today, we can see the country is large and progressing very steadily," he emphasized.

Cooperation and Efforts to Promote Selling

First Airbus airliner arrived in China in 1985. Now there are over 100 Airbus airliners in operation in China, though less than the Boeing-made airliners.

Mcleod said that Airbus wants to work with Chinese airlines and authorities not only in selling aircraft but also working with China's aviation industry, citing the production of wings of Airbus 320 in China.

Increase of Market Share

Noting Airbus 320 is a family of fast selling, he claimed that what Airbus has invested and is moving to China is not old aircraft and parts but products of success and sophisticated wings.

On efforts Airbus is going to make to increase its market share in China, Mcleod said that Airbus will expand its customer ranks and work with authorities and industries, saying Airbus will continue to convince authorities, potential customers and industries what benefits Airbus can bring to them under the macro level of China.

Help to Chinese Managers

He said Airbus will reach to every level of the Chinese market and make efforts to increase Airbus fleets of existing customers, to attract potential customers to use Airbus aircraft, to hold seminars to help Chinese managers, to assist in training personnel, and to produce spare parts in China.

"We are working very successfully with Chinese authorities on training of engineers, pilots and support centers," he said, adding "We really see ourselves committed to Chinese aviation industry of every level."

Cooperation and Tech Transfer to China's Aviation Industry

Mcleod also promised to work with China's Aviation industry and to transfer technology to its Chinese partners, saying "Airbus will work together with China's aviation industry so that China will be a true partner of Airbus not only for purchasing but also for production". He billed this as " industrial cooperation."

Commenting on China's aviation industry, Mcleod said that "You should be proud of your aviation industry which is developing in right direction," referring to commercialization in the restructuring of China's aviation industry.

On his work of seven years in China as representative of Airbus, Mcleod said that "We can understand the Chinese specific issues and where we can assist the Chinese aviation industry as it develops," underlining this is the key to success.

Airbus China President Confident in China's Aviation Market

China's aviation market will grow rapidly in the next 20 years, President of Airbus China Guy McLeod predicted on October 24, 2001 after Airbus delivered its first A321 to China Northern Airlines.

China will need 1,600 civil aircraft in the next 20 years, according to official estimates. Airbus hopes to claim half the market, Mcleod said.

About Airbus

Airbus, the first truly European company, is one of only two aircraft manufacturers in the market for large commercial airliners. It designs, builds, sells and supports commercial aircraft with a capacity of 100 seats or more.

With its Central Office in Toulouse, France, Airbus boasts the most modern and comprehensive airliner family in the world and consistently captures about half of all commercial airliner orders. More than 2,500 Airbus aircraft are currently in operation with 186 operators in all regions of the globe.

Airbus reached a turnover of US$17.2 billion in 2000 and had booked more than 4,300 orders by the end of June 2001. It produces more than one aircraft every working day and this rate keeps increasing.

Airbus did not enter China until 1985, much later than Boeing. Despite the late start, Airbus managed to overtake Boeing with 58 per cent of the total orders awarded by China to the two firms between 1996 and 2000.

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