What Happened
Air China Expands Narrowbody Fleet with Airbus A320neo Order
Air China has signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 60 A320neo aircraft, valued at approximately $9.5 billion, to support fleet renewal and capacity growth. The order, disclosed in a regulatory filing on December 30, 2025, will be split between Air China and a wholly owned subsidiary. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2032. The A320neo family has become the backbone of short- and medium-haul fleets worldwide, offering improved fuel efficiency and lower operating costs. Air China currently operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft across its short-, medium-, and long-haul networks. The airline has not specified whether the newly ordered aircraft will be allocated primarily to domestic routes or regional international services. This order adds to Airbus’ already substantial A320neo backlog, which stands at more than 8,000 aircraft globally. The manufacturer continues to ramp up production toward a target of 75 A320-family aircraft per month later this decade, though supply-chain constraints remain an industry-wide challenge. The deal follows a cluster of late-December Airbus narrowbody announcements in China, including orders from low-cost carrier Spring Airlines and privately owned Juneyao Airlines. Neither Air China nor Airbus disclosed financial terms associated with the agreement.