=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/04/25/f= inancial0901EDT0039.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, April 25, 2003 (AP) Airbus sells 30 planes worth $1.7 billion to Chinese carriers (04-25) 06:01 PDT PARIS (AP) -- European aircraft maker Airbus said Friday it had signed a contract to sell 30 planes to five Chinese airlines in a deal worth about $1.7 billion. Airbus said in a statement the deal included four wide-body A330s, 16 A319s and 10 single-aisle A320s, scheduled for delivery starting 2004. The planes will be operated by China Southern Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. It is the first time Chinese carriers have ordered the A330, Airbus said. Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard signed the contract in Beijing with Li Hai, the president of China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation, the state agency that buys aircraft on behalf of the state-dominated aviation sector. The signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People was attended by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his French counterpart, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who is on an official visit to China. It was the second major order for Airbus in two days. On Thursday, Airbus said it had won an order from New York-based JetBlue Airways for as many as 115 aircraft. The discount carrier placed a firm order for 65 A320s with an option to buy 50 more. At list price, the deal is potentially worth about $6.5 billion. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 AP