First China-assembled Airbus set for May test flight

The test will be carried out near the northern city of Tianjin, where Airbus has operated an assembly plant since last year, Xinhua news agency said, quoting Feng Zhijiang, an executive at the Tianjin Free Trade Zone.

A special runway is being constructed at Tianjin airport for the trial, Feng said.

Five Airbus A320s are being assembled at the Tianjin plant, the aerospace giant's first production facility outside Europe, Xinhua said.

Feng told Xinhua major parts of the aircraft had been put together in Germany before being transported to Tianjin for final assembly.

"Another 12 China-assembled A320 will be delivered next year," he said. "They will adopt Chinese-made parts, including wings and fuselage, and assembly of the major parts will also be done here in Tianjin."

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