Airbus and China Aviation Supplies Holding Company have signed a general terms agreement covering the purchase by Chinese airlines of a total of 300 Airbus aircraft.

The deal was signed in Paris by Guillaume Faury, president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft and future Airbus chief executive, and Jia Baojun, chairman of CAS, in the presence of visiting Chinese president Xi Jinping and French president Emmanuel Macron.

The deal comprises of 290 A320 family aircraft and ten A350 XWB family aircraft, reflecting the strong demand in all market segments including domestic, low-cost, regional and international long haul from Chinese carriers.

“We are honoured to support the growth of China’s civil aviation with our leading aircraft families – single aisle and widebodies,” said Faury.

“Our expanding footprint in China demonstrate our lasting confidence in the Chinese market and our long-term commitment to China and our partners.”

According to Airbus’ latest China market forecast, China will need some 7,400 new passenger and freighters aircraft in the next 20 years.

It represents more than 19 per cent of the world total demand for over 37,400 new aircraft.

By the end of January 2019, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators totalled some 1,730 aircraft, of which 1,455 are A320 family, and 17 are A350 XWB planes.

With more than 14,600 A320 Family aircraft ordered and over 8,600 delivered, the A320 is the world’s most successful single-aisle aircraft family.