Airbus eyes local airlines to sell A220 planes

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said it has been in close discussions with Chinese airlines, especially small and medium-sized carriers, for possible sales of its 100-to 150-seat, low-emission A220 aircraft, which are not yet in service in China.

The aircraft model is considered by aviation industry experts as suitable for flights in western China and second-tier cities in eastern China.

The single-aisle A220 fills the gap between regional-level aircraft like the domestically developed jetliner ARJ21 and single-aisle aircraft such as the A320 and the Boeing B737 that are used on both short and long-haul routes.