CHINA signed a deal with European planemaker Airbus yesterday to purchase 60 planes during French President Francois Hollande's two-day visit to the country.
The deal, worth at least US$8 billion at list prices, partially lifts what Airbus has described as a Chinese boycott on the purchase of long-haul A330 jets imposed during a recent row with the European Union over airline emissions. Airbus said the order included 18 wide-bodied A330s.
In November, the EU's executive Commission agreed to suspend the scheme for foreign airlines for a year, pending international negotiations and amid warnings of retaliation.
Airbus also announced Chinese orders for 42 smaller A320-family jets.