Airbus sells big to Chinese airlines

Airbus SAS is in talks to sell an undisclosed number of its biggest aircraft, A380s, to three Chinese airlines – Air China, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines, state media reported, citing Airbus executives. In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, Chinese airlines bought 140 aircraft, valued at US$15.5bn, this year from Airbus, Boeing and Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica, making China the largest market for new planes. Airbus estimates Chinese airlines may need 1,790 new planes valued at US$230 billion over the next 18 years.