Airbus gets big A320 order

China signed an agreement with Airbus for 50 A320 family aircraft, including 30 A320ceo and 20 A320neo aircraft. The deal between Airbus and ICBC Financial Leasing Co. is worth some $4 billion and came during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Beijing. "We decided to order more Airbus A320 Family aircraft … to enhance our portfolio in anticipation of increasing demand of the aviation markets in China, Asia Pacific region and the world as well," said Li Xiaopeng, Senior Executive Vice President of ICBC and Chairman of ICBC Leasing. Airbus and Chinese authorities also reached a $1.6 billion framework deal to extend an Airbus A320 assembly line at Tianjin near Beijing. (Sources: Reuters, Airbus, 08/30/12) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is also planning to build an A320 assembly line in Mobile, Ala.