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BEIJING / PARIS: Chinese airlines are avoiding some Airbus aircraft deliveries, citing coronavirus infection fears for their staff in the latest fight over efforts to keep delayed deliveries on track despite the pandemic, sources from the industry.
Airbus has lobbied Chinese airlines to accept aircraft delivery now that the domestic market has recovered to pre-COVID levels. But many airlines are using the pandemic as an excuse to delay deliveries, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
“The fact is that now there is no shortage of aircraft in the domestic market,” said the source, who did not want to be named.
Airbus did not immediately comment.
Airbus deliveries rose in September to a peak since the crisis began, but deliveries to China have been delayed even as airlines are leading a recovery in aircraft use.
Airbus delivered 341 aircraft in the first 9 months, including about 39 to China, which typically accounts for a quarter of Western deliveries. Airbus was due to update the October data on Friday.
Most of the Airbus jets delivered to Chinese airlines come from an A320 assembly line in Tianjin, but for other jets, airlines must send staff to Europe. Air China sent personnel to France to take an A350 in August, while China Southern, also in August, sent a team to Germany to take an A321neo.
Two other industry sources said that Chinese airlines in many cases were slow to send staff to Europe, noting that this comes at a time when demand for jets is low.
However, some special arrangements are being made.
Spring Airlines in September took an A321neo assembled in Germany. Due to COVID-related restrictions on cross-border travel, Airbus arranged for the plane to fly to Tianjin, spokesman Zhang Wuan said, adding that this suited both parties.
“So our people didn’t have to travel abroad. Airbus staff went straight back to Europe after flying the plane here,” Zhang said.
– Reuters
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