Following the ongoing trade tensions with the US, Chinese airlines have turned to European-made aircraft for new purchases, signing a total of 148 contracts with Airbus worth over $22 billion.

The trade tensions between China and the US have weakened the ability of US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing to secure new orders from China, while providing Airbus with a competitive advantage. Chinese airlines, including China's flag carrier Air China, signed a total of 148 aircraft purchase contracts worth over $22 billion with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus in the last days of December.

The largest purchase was made by China's flag carrier airline, Air China. Air China signed an agreement to purchase 60 A320NEO aircraft from Airbus, worth $9.53 billion. The company announced on December 30 that the aircraft would be delivered between 2028 and 2032.

In a statement made by Airbus, it was said, “We are very pleased with Air China's decision to place more orders for the Airbus A320 family.”

On the same day, China Express Airlines also announced that it had placed an order for three aircraft of the same model. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines were also among the companies that signed purchase agreements with Airbus. These companies also announced that they would purchase 30 and 25 Airbus A320 model aircraft, respectively.

The following day, Hong Kong-based aircraft leasing company China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings also signed a contract to purchase 30 Airbus A320 NEO aircraft and announced that the aircraft would be delivered by 2033.

The total value of the purchase contracts signed by Chinese airlines with Airbus in the past week amounted to approximately $22.2 billion.