Airbus has opened a new completion and delivery centre (C&DC) for its A330 wide-body aircraft programme in Tianjin, China.

The company has already delivered the first A330 aircraft from the new C&DC to Tianjin Airlines.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the newly delivered 260-seat aircraft was assembled and equipped at Airbus’ site in Toulouse, France.

The new A330 C&DC will be used to carry out various aircraft completion activities such as cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight test, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery.

Located at Airbus' existing A320 aircraft final assembly and delivery site in Tianjin, the 16,800m² centre is equipped with a paint shop, a weighing hangar, and one main hangar with three aircraft positions.

“Wide-body aircraft completed in China is an Airbus and an industry first, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to a strong and growing Chinese aviation sector.”

Airbus has already trained 150 staff from the new C&DC in Toulouse.

With two aircraft planned to be delivered a month by early 2019, the centre aims to employ more than 250 people.

Airbus COO and Commercial Aircraft president Fabrice Brégier said: “The inauguration of our A330 C&DC in Tianjin, together with the first of many deliveries, marks a new milestone for Airbus’ international footprint and underlines the strong spirit of cooperation with our Chinese partners.

“Wide-body aircraft completed in China is an Airbus and an industry first, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to a strong and growing Chinese aviation sector.”

Until the end of last month, the in-service fleet of Airbus aircraft with Chinese airlines included 1,484 jets, which features 1,282 A320 and 202 A330 aircraft.

Nine Chinese carriers are currently operating the A330 aircraft family.

Image: Airbus’ A330 completion and delivery centre inauguration. Photo: courtesy of Airbus.