Airbus (EAD.Euronext, EAD.FWB, EAD.BMAD) is poised to secure a Chinese order for at least 100 aircraft worth in excess of US$8 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the talks. The deal, which would be announced to coincide with President Hu Jintao’s upcoming visit to France, would be the largest since the US$17 billion, 160-jet order placed in 2007. Airbus has launched an assembly line in China – its first outside Europe – as part of efforts to win market share from Boeing (BA.NYSE). The US$600 million, Tianjin-based facility assembles single-aisle A320 and A319 models for the local market only. A total of 32 planes have been delivered to customers since June 2009. Airbus is predicted to control 45% of the Chinese jet market by the end of this year. Boeing said Tuesday that it expects commercial aircraft demand in China to be worth US$480 billion over the next 20 years, with 4,330 new planes required.
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