European aircraft manufacturer Airbus delivered the first A321neo single-aisle aircraft - assembled at its final assembly line in Tianjin - to private carrier Juneyao Air on Friday.
The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines and has 207 seats. Its delivery flight will use a 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel blend to support green aviation strategy in China.
"Since we announced the commissioning of the first A321 aircraft in Tianjin last November, the relevant final assembly activities and tests went smoothly, showcasing the maturity of the final assembly line in Tianjin to quickly adapt to new products," said George Xu, Airbus executive vice-president and Airbus China CEO.
"Airbus continues to expand and enhance its comprehensive cooperation with China's aviation industry, underlining its long-term commitment to China to ensure customer proximity while supporting the global commercial aircraft production ramp-up," Xu said.
Currently, Airbus operates four A320 family final assembly facilities globally, and they are located in Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France; Tianjin, China; and Mobile, the United States.
The A321, the biggest member of the A320 family, now serves as Airbus' narrowest-body aircraft with the strongest demand globally. With the conversion of the Tianjin facility last year, and with the latest facility about to complete its transformation in Toulouse, the global industrial system will be fully A321-capable, meeting the demands of Airbus' ramp up goals.