Airbus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd.to enhance the cooperation between the two parties and jointly provide support and services solutions for Chinese airlines. The signature took place at Airbus Headquarters in Toulouse and was witnessed by China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines on top of China Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd. and Airbus officials.

Under the agreement, Airbus and China Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd. will explore the setting up of a platform to address support and services opportunities in a coordinated manner, with the aim to strengthen multi-partite innovation and cooperation and provide even more cost-effective and comprehensive solutions to Chinese airlines.

The MoU covers the areas of material and services supply chain, such as spare parts distribution centres, major asset pool, materials bulk purchasing, stock forward and inventory optimisation, repair management and capability, AOG support for Chinese airlines and other material management and material training initiatives. The agreement also foresees increased exchanges via multi-partite training and workshops to strengthen innovation and cooperation.

The Airbus in-service fleet in China today amounts to 1550 aircraft. This cooperation will further reinforce Airbus'presence in the region in the area of support and services, in line with Services by Airbus ambition to become a game-changing player in the country. Today Airbus already has a strong network for support and services in the country with for instance one of Airbus'legacy training centres, but also maintenance & engineering centres, spare parts warehouse, etc.

Notes to editors about China Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd.

With the authorisation from State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) the platform company shareholdings were transferred to China Aviation Supplies IMP. & EXP. Co., Ltd, with the restructured entity re-named as China Aviation Supply Corporation (CASC). The shareholders of the newly restructured company are China Southern Air Holding Company, China National Aviation Holding Company (CNAHC), China Eastern Air Holding Company, China Aviation Supplies Holding Company and China Reform Holdings Co., Ltd with the proportions for each shareholder 24%, 23%, 22%, 21% and 10% respectively.

CASC will apply data sharing and Internet technology integrating its resources to offer effective and efficient aviation supply solutions developing a win-win environment across the industry in order to create a new and innovative Chinese aviation materials supply system. After the company was restructured, it will become a material sharing platform that was held by the five shareholders serving the whole industry. It aims at being an irreplaceable comprehensive service provider based on comprehensive aviation material supply of the industry.