China may order hundreds of Airbus jets instead of Boeing

Chinese airlines are preparing to place an order for several hundred Airbus aircraft, potentially ranging from 200 to 500 planes, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, discussions are ongoing over the size of the order, which could be finalized in July during a planned visit to China by several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

A significant portion of the order is expected to include wide-body Airbus jets. If the order reaches 500 aircraft, it would rank among the largest in aviation history and become the biggest ever for China. In 2022, China ordered around 300 Airbus planes valued at $37 billion.

Bloomberg sources noted that negotiations are still at an early stage, and there is no guarantee the deal will be completed. However, if finalized, it would considerably strengthen Airbus' position in one of the world's largest civil aviation markets.