Airbus inaugurates first A330 delivery center outside Europe
A security guard stands below the first Airbus A330 plane to be delivered by the Airbus Long Range Cabin Completion Centre, after the inauguration ceremony in Tianjin, China on September 20, 2017.
Airbus Wednesday inaugurated its A330 Completion and Delivery Centre (CDC) in Tianjin, north China, marking the first such center for its wide-body aircraft outside Europe.
As a global aeronautics leader, Airbus is taking further steps to expand its global footprint and strategic partnership with China, the company said.
"The inauguration of our A330 CDC in Tianjin, together with the first of many deliveries, marks a milestone for Airbus' international footprint and underlines the strong spirit of cooperation with our Chinese partners," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO and president of Commercial Aircraft.
"Completing wide-body aircraft in China is an Airbus, and an industry, first which demonstrates our mutual commitment to a strong and growing Chinese aviation sector," Bregier said.
Airbus Wednesday also delivered its first A330 jointly completed by European and Chinese staff to Tianjin Airlines. This aircraft was completed in Toulouse, France.
The A330 CDC will employ more than 250 people and will be able to deliver two aircraft per month by early 2019, according to Airbus.
The center is located at the same site as the Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line and Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre.
About 150 Chinese staff have been trained by Airbus in Toulouse to work at the CDC.
The center will complete tasks such as cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight testing, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery, according to Airbus.
The center is composed of a paint shop, weighing hangar and main hangar with three aircraft positions.
