EADS co-CEO and Airbus CEO Louis Gallois said he believes China likely will be capable of building A320-size aircraft by 2020.

Regarding the country's claim that it intends to build "jumbo aircraft", Gallois recently said in Toulouse that "The technology level of China is improving every day. . .They are moving very fast. When they say 2020, why not? It's a challenge for [both Boeing and Airbus]."

He noted, however, that it could take much longer for airlines outside China to have "confidence" in the aircraft's long-term performance value.

"But we have to take into account that Chinese industry will be able [by 2020] to build an aircraft of the A320's size," he said. "Larger aircraft may take longer."