Boeing Zhoushan delivery center underway

The construction of a Boeing completion and delivery center got underway in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Thursday.

The joint venture between Boeing Co and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd is expected to help the Chinese aviation industry promote industrial upgrading and facilitate the transformation of Zhoushan's aviation park into a leading aviation manufacturing base.

Ray Conner, vice-chairman of Boeing, has expressed willingness to expand the partnership with the Chinese aviation industry for mutual benefit, and said the Zhoushan project was another step.

He said the center will increase the production of the B737 and B737 MAX to meet global demand.

The project will consist of a completion center under a joint venture between Boeing and COMAC and a delivery center owned by Boeing, capable of tasks including cabin installation, painting, flight testing and aircraft maintenance.

With maximum annual delivery capacity of 100 planes, the center will be ready for its first delivery in 2018.

While the aviation park is aiming for its maiden delivery in 2018, the Airbus A320 final assembly line in Tianjin will start assembling the A320neo in July and delivering in September.

Airbus's first overseas completion and delivery center for the A330 is also expected to deliver its first aircraft in September and produce two aircraft monthly by 2019.

Eric Chen, Airbus China president and CEO, said the company is bullish on the growing demand for A330 in China.