Tianjin Will Be Site of Assembly Line
By Perry Flint, ATW online | Jun. 09, 2006
Airbus and the National Development & Reform Commission of China announced the selection of the Tianjin Binhai New Coastal District as the site for a potential A320 final assembly line should Airbus decide to move forward with the project.The selection follows the signing of an MOU between Airbus and NDRC last December. In a statement, Airbus said that Tianjin, which has a population of more than 10 million, was one of four cities considered and was chosen "after a thorough evaluation including multiple criteria such as, facility site and land, seaport proximity, airport characteristics, labor and industrial capability."
A feasibility study is continuing and Airbus said a joint decision with NDRC is expected by the end of September. "Subject to such decision, the shared target is to commence FAL operations in 2008 with a production ramp up to four aircraft per month by 2011."