Airlines are using funds from Chinese financial services firms in increasing numbers to purchase aircraft, driving Airbus deliveries to near-record levels this year, Bloomberg reported, citing Airbus SAS head of aircraft finance. "Chinese financial institutions have done a solid job of financing airlines in China; now they’re expanding rapidly beyond Chinese borders and that should continue," Airbus COO John Leahy said. Chinese firms were involved in funding several deals last year including Bank of China BOC Aviation’s sale-lease-back of three Southwest Airlines planes and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s first international leasing transaction with British Airways. Airbus earlier this week signed a cooperation agreement with CDB Leasing involving the financing of support sale and leaseback transactions worth up to US$4 billion over the next five years for the Toulouse-based aircraft maker.
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