Air China Opts for A320s

Air China said it would buy 24 A320 aircraft from Airbus at a cost of approximately $1.7 billion, including optional features and engines. An Air China spokeswoman told the media that the jets are part of a government-led Airbus package announced last year, involving most of China's major airlines, and did not represent newly placed orders. The Chinese government tends to buy aircraft in large bulk orders for its multiple state-owned carriers. Then the individual airlines purchases are announced later, as with this announcement.