This photo provided by Airbus on Dec. 17, 2025 shows the aircraft manufacturer delivering its 800th A320 family aircraft assembled at its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua)

TIANJIN, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Wednesday delivered its 800th A320 family aircraft assembled at its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

The aircraft, an A321neo, featuring 12 business class seats and 186 economy class seats in a two-class cabin layout, was handed over to Air China.

Inaugurated in 2008, the Tianjin FALA -- the first Airbus production line established outside Europe -- is currently producing Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. It has been operating for 17 years, making the facility a symbol of successful Sino-European cooperation.

Since delivering its first Airbus A320 aircraft in 2009, FALA marked the delivery of its 500th and 700th A320 family aircraft in October 2020 and July 2024, respectively.

"It demonstrates Airbus' ongoing pledge to deepen strategic partnerships in China, reinforcing our 40 years of commitment to the country," said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO.

On Oct. 22 this year, Airbus inaugurated its latest final assembly line for A320 family aircraft in Tianjin, the second of its kind in both China and Asia as a whole.

To date, Airbus' A320 production network has expanded to 10 final assembly lines -- four in Germany, two in France, two in the United States and two in China -- with the assembly capacity in Tianjin set to contribute 20 percent of the company's total globally.

The popular single-aisle A320 Family has seen over 19,000 orders from over 300 customers in global markets. Xu said that Airbus teams in China remain committed to supporting the global A320 Family ramp-up plan, aiming to assemble 75 aircraft per month by 2027.

According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the number of people who have taken at least one flight in China has reached 470 million, an increase of 160 million since 2019, making it the country with the largest flying population in the world.

Xu noted that Airbus' growth in China reflects its expanding market share, with the country now serving as its largest single-country market for commercial aircraft.

According to the company, about one-third of the Airbus aircraft currently in service in the Chinese fleet are produced at its final assembly line in Tianjin.

In 2024, around 25 percent of aircraft assembled in China were delivered to airlines outside the Chinese mainland, Xu said, adding that China's stable aviation ecosystem allows Airbus to serve the global market from within the country, supporting the global aviation industry.

This robust growth is underpinned by a deep industrial partnership. Approximately 200 Chinese suppliers now support Airbus' commercial aircraft production efforts, covering the entire industrial chain from raw materials to system assembly, which ensures that every Airbus civil aircraft incorporates components manufactured in China.

The company forecasts that China's annual air passenger volume will surge by 5.3 percent on average over the next 20 years, outpacing the global average of 3.6 percent. To cope with the demand, by 2042, more than 9,000 out of 40,000 new aircraft needed globally will be delivered to China.

"China's aviation market holds immense potential, and our strengthened industrial footprint here underscores our strong commitment to this market. Airbus is dedicated to continuing our partnership with China, working hand in hand to contribute to the positive relations between China and the European Union," said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. ■