Air China’s $9.5B A320neo Mega-Order Caps China’s Late-December Airbus Buying Spree
Air China has agreed to buy 60 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, one of the largest single-aisle commitments announced by a Chinese airline this year. The order—disclosed via a regulatory filing—carries an estimated list-price value of about $9.5 billion, though large commercial aircraft deals are typically completed with negotiated discounts.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2032, with the aircraft set to be split between Air China and one of its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Why The A320neo Family Fits Air China’s Plan
Air China says the new aircraft will support capacity expansion while also replacing older narrowbodies, helping reduce operating costs and improve environmental performance. The A320neo family is known for double-digit fuel-burn reductions compared with earlier-generation A320ceo aircraft, driven by aerodynamic improvements and updated engine options.
The aircraft can be powered by either:
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CFM LEAP-1A, or
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Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines.
Part Of A Broader “December Wave” Of Chinese Narrowbody Orders
Air China’s announcement lands amid a noticeable year-end uptick in Chinese Airbus activity, with multiple A320neo-family deals surfacing in late December. Recent disclosures include:
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Spring Airlines: plans for 30 A320neo aircraft, with deliveries expected 2028–2032 (pending approvals).
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Juneyao Airlines: plans for 25 A320-family aircraft, also expected 2028–2032.
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CALC (lessor): an additional 30 A320neo order, extending its broader A320neo-family commitments.
Taken together, the cluster of deals signals renewed procurement momentum in China’s commercial jet pipeline.
Airbus Benefits As It Pushes Production Higher
For Airbus, the Air China order reinforces the strength of the A320neo program as the manufacturer works toward a long-term production goal of 75 A320-family aircraft per month later in the decade. The single-aisle backlog remains massive—more than 8,000 aircraft—even as the industry continues to navigate supply-chain and delivery constraints.
What This Means For Air China’s Network
Air China operates a mixed Airbus-Boeing fleet, and the A320neo-family aircraft are expected to play a major role on:
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domestic trunk routes,
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short-haul regional flying, and
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hub-feeding services supporting long-haul operations—particularly around Beijing and Chengdu.
The bottom line: Air China is using the A320neo family to add capacity, refresh its narrowbody fleet, and improve efficiency, while Airbus locks in another major win in one of its most strategically important single-aisle markets.
