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Air China, Shenzhen Order 55 Airbus Jets, $12.4 B

7/18/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Air China Orders Airbus

Air China and its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines ordered 55 Airbus aircraft worth about $12.4 billion.
The order comprises 15 A350-900 wide-body jets for Air China and 40 A320neo narrow-body jets for Shenzhen Airlines.
Deliveries are slated for 2030-2032 for the A350-900 and 2029-2032 for the A320neo.
The purchase will more than double Shenzhen Airlines’ A320neo fleet.

Summary

Chinese Airlines Expand

Air China could post a net loss of up to 2.6 billion yuan for H1 2026 because of higher fuel prices.
Its 15 A350-900 jets should lift passenger and cargo capacity by about 7.1 % versus end-2025.
Shenzhen Airlines’ 40 A320neo deliveries will raise capacity roughly 4 % after retiring older aircraft.
Chinese airlines have ordered 292 A320-family jets for 2026, bolstering Airbus’s foothold against Boeing’s 737 MAX.

History

Historical Context

Airbus’s A320 family became the fastest-selling narrow-body from 2005-2007, sparking a major deal with Chinese carriers. The momentum continued as Air China placed a $12.4 billion order for 55 jets and Shenzhen Airlines received 40 A320neo deliveries, while Boeing responded with its 737 MAX program. By October 2019 the A320 family held 15,193 orders, overtaking Boeing’s 15,136.

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Air China Orders Airbus

Air China and its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines ordered 55 Airbus aircraft worth about $12.4 billion.
The order comprises 15 A350-900 wide-body jets for Air China and 40 A320neo narrow-body jets for Shenzhen Airlines.
Deliveries are slated for 2030-2032 for the A350-900 and 2029-2032 for the A320neo.
The purchase will more than double Shenzhen Airlines’ A320neo fleet.

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