ATC Avia - Production at Airbus' China plant to begin in August

Beijing - Airbus SAS plans to begin production in China at its first factory outside Europe in August, a spokesman said Friday. The European airplane maker plans to deliver the first plane made at the plant in Tianjin, about 100 kilometres south-east of Beijing, in the first half of 2009, and by 2011, it should be producing four planes a month.

Informed sources said the plant dedication would take place on September 10, but the spokesman in Beijing would not confirm the date.

Construction on the plant began in May as Airbus sought a presence in the world's second-largest aviation market after the United States.

The plant to build 320s, Airbus' most popular plane, is a joint venture by Airbus and a Chinese consortium. Airbus has a 51-per-cent stake in the venture, which also involves the Tianjin Free Trade Zone and the two Chinese airplane makers China Aviation Industry Corp AVIC I and AVIC II.

2/12/2010 China Eastern seeks investor

CHINA Eastern Airlines is taking steps to improve its performance, such as seeking strategic investors and widening its flight network, to help build Shanghai into an international air hub after finalizing its takeover of Shanghai Airlines.

2/1/2010 China plans national aviation industrial zone

An ambitious 40 billion yuan (US$ 5.9 billion) industrial zone for aircraft parts is being planned in South China to produce up to a quarter of the supply for big Chinese planes, a Jiangxi provincial said on Thursday.

1/22/2010 Hong Kong forecasts return to air cargo growth in 2010

Hong Kong forecasts return to air cargo growth in 2010

1/22/2010 Aeroflot retires last Tu-154, the workhorse of Russian skies

Aeroflot retires last Tu-154, the workhorse of Russian skies

1/21/2010 Shanghai's exports up 1st time in 14 months

SHANGHAI'S exports rose for the first time in 14 months last December, while imports soared even higher as the city's economy posted a stronger recovery momentum, Shanghai Customs said.