Airbus wins orders from China for A320 aircraft

Airbus says it has secured orders for 43 of its A320 family of aircraft from two new Chinese airlines.

Qingdao Airlines signed a deal for 23 aircraft, including five regular A320s and 18 of the re-engined A320neo.

Zhejiang Loong Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding for 20 Airbus A320 aircraft, including 11 A320s and nine of the A320neo.

Both deals, announced at a Beijing airshow, must be approved by the Chinese government before progressing, according to the BBC.

If given the go-ahead, deliveries are expected to begin in 2016.

Qingdao Airlines is based at the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province, and is set to begin operations in 2014 with leased aircraft.

Zhejiang Loong Airlines is based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and is scheduled to begin operations this year.