Airbus Stock Takes Off Chinese Airlines Place $17.8 Billion Order for 95 Jets

TLDR

• Air China and Shenzhen Airlines ordered 55 Airbus jets at a list price of $12.4 billion, part of a broader $17.8 billion deal including Hainan Airlines.
• Air China will take 15 A350-900 wide-body jets; Shenzhen Airlines ordered 40 A320neo narrow-body aircraft.
• Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2032 across all three carriers.
• Chinese airlines continue expanding fleets post-pandemic despite higher fuel costs and Air China flagging a net loss of up to 2.6 billion yuan for H1 2026.
• Boeing is losing ground in China, with Airbus landing several major Chinese airline orders in recent months.

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Airbus picked up a major win Friday as three Chinese carriers committed to buying 95 jets in a deal totaling $17.8 billion at list prices, putting further distance between itself and rival Boeing in one of the world’s most important aviation markets.

Airbus won an order from Air China for 15 A350-900 widebody aircraft as well as 40 A320neo series for its Shenzhen Airlines subsidiary https://t.co/UkkGpaOOr1

— Bloomberg (@business) July 17, 2026

Air China agreed to purchase 15 A350-900 wide-body jets, valued at approximately $6.09 billion based on Airbus’s January 2025 list prices. Those aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2030 and 2032.

Shenzhen Airlines, an Air China unit, will separately take 40 A320neo-family narrow-body jets, priced at around $6.35 billion based on January 2024 list prices, with deliveries slated for 2029 through 2032.

Airbus SE, EADSY

Hainan Airlines also features in the broader deal, ordering 40 A320neo jets scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2032.

The combined list price across all three carriers comes to $17.8 billion. Air China noted in its Shanghai Stock Exchange filing that actual transaction prices will come in below listed values, as Airbus routinely offers discounts on large orders.

Both Air China and Shenzhen Airlines plan to fund the purchases through a mix of internal funds, commercial bank loans, and other financing arrangements.

Chinese Airlines Keep Buying Despite Headwinds

The orders come even as Chinese carriers face pressure on margins. Air China recently flagged a net loss of up to 2.6 billion yuan for the first half of 2026, with higher fuel prices squeezing the industry.

Broader demand has also faced some turbulence. Fare increases, weather disruptions, and economic uncertainty have weighed on passenger volumes in recent months, according to IATA. Still, China remains the world’s second-largest passenger market, with 776.1 million passengers in 2025, up 4.8% from 2024.

The airlines are pressing ahead with fleet expansion to modernize aging aircraft, improve fuel efficiency, and optimize route networks. The A350-900 is a long-haul workhorse, while the A320neo family competes directly with Boeing’s 737 MAX on medium-haul routes.

Boeing Falling Behind in China

Friday’s announcement adds to a growing list of Airbus wins in China this year. China Eastern Airlines said last month it plans to buy 25 A330neo jets for about $9.35 billion, following a March announcement to purchase 101 A320neo aircraft for around $15.8 billion.

In April, China Southern Airlines and subsidiary Xiamen Airlines agreed to buy 137 Airbus aircraft for $21.4 billion.

Boeing, meanwhile, has struggled to keep pace with Airbus in securing new Chinese airline orders.

The 55-jet order by Air China and Shenzhen Airlines adds to a July order flow that already saw Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Shenzhen Airlines collectively order 292 A320-family aircraft from Airbus at the start of the month.