Chinese Airlines Move to Expand Fleets With Major Airbus A320 Orders

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Two Chinese carriers have taken significant steps to expand and modernize their fleets, signaling renewed momentum in China’s commercial aviation market as domestic travel continues to rebound and airlines prepare for longer-term growth.

Budget carrier Spring Airlines disclosed in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange that it has agreed to purchase 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft, with the total value of the deal capped at the aircraft’s list price of $4.13 billion. The company said the jets will be delivered in stages over a four-year period, beginning in 2028 and running through 2032. The aircraft are expected to support Spring Airlines’ strategy of expanding capacity while improving fuel efficiency and lowering operating costs.

In a separate filing, Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines said it plans to sign an agreement with Airbus to acquire 25 aircraft from the A320 family. Based on list prices, the order is valued at approximately $4.1 billion, with deliveries also scheduled between 2028 and 2032. Juneyao Airlines has been steadily growing its network and fleet in recent years, positioning itself as a key player in China’s competitive short- and medium-haul market.

Both airlines noted that the proposed transactions remain subject to regulatory and government approvals, a standard requirement for major aircraft purchases in China. The filings did not disclose the final transaction prices, which are typically negotiated at significant discounts from published list prices.

The announcements come as Airbus continues efforts to deepen its footprint in the Chinese aviation market, one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world. The European planemaker has been engaged in intermittent negotiations since at least 2024 aimed at securing a large-scale aircraft order from China, potentially involving hundreds of jets.

Earlier this month, Airbus said it had received approval from Chinese authorities to proceed with the delivery of 120 aircraft that had been ordered previously but delayed, marking an important step in easing delivery bottlenecks. However, the company has indicated that talks on new large orders are still ongoing and have yet to reach a breakthrough.

For Chinese airlines, the planned purchases reflect long-term confidence in passenger demand, even as the industry faces challenges ranging from cost pressures to global supply chain constraints. The A320neo family, known for improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions compared with earlier models, remains a popular choice for airlines seeking to balance growth with operating efficiency.

If finalized, the deals would further strengthen Airbus’ position in China’s narrow-body aircraft market and underscore the gradual normalization of large-scale aircraft transactions between Chinese carriers and global manufacturers after several years of uncertainty.