Airbus considering new joint venture in China

France-based airplane maker Airbus is considering new initiatives, including joint ventures in China, to increase its presence outside of industrial projects, Dow Jones reported.

The company is looking at several opportunities in areas including aircraft financing and leasing, air traffic management and navigation procedures, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and onboard wireless communications connectivity, according to Laurence Barron, Airbus China president.

China's plan to build 97 airports by 2020 and expand existing ones to bring the total number of airports to 244 will provide great potential for air traffic management systems, Barron said.

The aircraft repair and overhaul market in China is growing rapidly because of Chinese airlines' fleet expansion and US and European carriers' increasing outsourcing of aircraft maintenance services.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)