Airbus S.A. has inaugurated a new aircraft assembly line in Tianjin, China, for its top-selling A320 series of narrow-body aircraft. It’s the second such line at the jet-builder’s complex in a free-trade zone of that city, about 85 miles southeast of Beijing. The plant was established in 2008 and has completed and delivered close to 800 A320 series aircraft to date.
According to its recent 20-year outlook, Airbus marks China as its largest individual market for commercial aircraft, with projected 20-year (2025-2044) demand for 9,570 new aircraft. It also sees China and the east Asia region as one of the fastest growing centers for commercial aviation traffic.
“We welcome the addition of Tianjin’s second line to our global production system, as it provides us with the necessary flexibility and capacity to deliver on our plan to assemble 75 A320 family aircraft per month in 2027,” stated Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.
The A320 series consists of four models of the narrow-body jets for different configurations and carrying capacities, from 107 up to 230 passengers. The twin-engine jets have a range of 3,100-3,200 nautical miles (5,700-5,900 km / 3,600-3,700 miles.) A fifth variant, the long-range A321XLR, made a commercial debut in 2024, and has a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km / 5,800 miles.)
Airbus delivered 602 A320 series aircraft in 2024, and has orders in place for nearly 7,200 more to be completed.
The new line is already preparing to assemble its first new aircraft, and will be fully operational in early 2026, according to an Airbus announcement.
The line will be the tenth aircraft assembly line situated regionally: four in Hamburg, Germany; two in Toulouse, France; two in Mobile, Ala., the second of which was inaugurated earlier this month; and now two in Tianjin.
Airbus noted the new line incorporates its latest technologies and processes meant to ensure consistent standards at all of it assembly locations.
It further noted the new line operates with electricity from renewable sources, geothermal energy, and reclaimed water.