European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has just received a substantial aircraft order from China, with both Sping Airlines and Juneyao Airlines committing to buy a total of 55 Airbus A320 jets (collectively) worth more than $8.2 billion (at list price). This will see the new aircraft commence deliveries by the end of the decade.
While both deals will still need the required government approvals, Airbus has long been in negotiations with Chinese carriers to secure up to 500 jet orders from Chinese operators. This month, Airbus secured another Chinese agreement, which will see the delivery of more than 120 jets.
30 Airbus A320neo For Spring Airlines
Chinese low-cost-carrier Spring Airlines (Spring Airlines Co. Ltd) operates a network of domestic and international services to Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently, as per data from ch-aviation, the airline operates a total of 134 aircraft, which include 75 Airbus Airbus A320-200, 47 Airbus A320neo, and 12 Airbus A321neo. These can accommodate between 174 and 240 passengers respectively.
The airline’s latest order to acquire 30 additional Airbus A320neos is expected to be delivered in ‘batches’ according to Reuters between 2028 and 2032. What makes this order unique is that it is alleged these airlines have paid a premium for the aircraft to ‘beat the wait’. This has been done by committing billions of dollars years in advance. Spring Airlines was first founded back in 2024, and has grown to even have a Japanese subsidiary, Spring Airlines Japan (a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Spring, where Spring owns 30%).
This comes at a time when airlines continue to be plagued by ‘backlog anxiety’, with airlines around the world patiently waiting for aircraft orders that have been years in the making, but hampered by ongoing supply chain and delivery delays. Spring Airlines operates from three main bases in China: Shanghai Hongqiao, 
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Shijiazhuang.
25 Airbus A320neo For Juneyao Airlines
Juneyao Airlines, a 
Star Alliance member and full-service carrier, operates a domestic and international network across China with primary hubs at both Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong. Additional secondary hubs are located in Beijing and Nanjing. The airline’s international network includes widebody operations and includes services to the United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.
The airline’s current fleet surpasses 100 aircraft, with a mix of all Airbus narrowbody aircraft (A320-200, A320neo, A321-200, and A321neo), and its widebody operations are dominated by ten Boeing 787-9 (with another five options available on order). Juneyao was first established in June 2005, commencing operations in September 2026, offering full service perks, but with budget airline pricing.
Juneyao Airlines has signed an agreement with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to purchase 25 Airbus A320neo jets, which are set to be at a list price of more than $4.1 billion. These are expected between 2028 and 2032; however are subject to government approval.
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More Airbus Aircraft For China
Earlier this month, China approved new jet deliveries for Airbus, seeing more than 120 aircraft previously ordered finally getting the go-ahead from the Chinese government. This is a widely accepted part of the order for more than 500 aircraft that has been in discussion for more than a year.
These latest moves by two ‘smaller’ Chinese carriers, when compared to the country’s three flagship airlines ( 
Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern ), remind us that the aviation market in China remains strong at both ends of the spectrum (low-cost to full-service). Single-aisle aircraft continue to dominate, with the Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and Comac C919 being the perfect fit.
Chinese demand for domestic air travel continues to increase, with widely speculated forecasts seeing thousands of new planes required (primarily narrow-body) within the next two decades. This comes from strong economic growth in the country, along with an increase in disposable income for travelers. The commercial fleet for Chinese airlines is expected to more than double, with delivery demand for China alone seeing approximately 20% of all new aircraft.
