Airbus to deliver first China-produced plane

European aircraft maker Airbus will deliver its first middle-distance aircraft to be entirely assembled in China on Tuesday, AFP reported. The A320 airplane, which was made at a factory in northern Tianjin, will be delivered to Dragon Aviation Leasing and will be flown by regional carrier Sichuan Airlines. Ten middle-distance A319/320 aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, and the factory is targeting production of four planes per month by 2011. The symbolic delivery of the A320 coincides with an order signed last week by China Eastern Airlines for 20 Airbus A320s to be delivered between 2011 and 2013. China is expected to buy 2,800 new planes over the next 20 years valued at US$329 billion.