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China stalls Airbus approvals to pressure Europe on homegrown Chinese jets, Bloomberg News reports - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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China stalls Airbus approvals to pressure Europe on homegrown Chinese jets, Bloomberg News reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 27, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 27, 2026

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China Delays Airbus Deliveries, Urges Europe to Approve COMAC Jets Faster

China's Actions and International Aviation Certification Tensions

China Stalls Airbus Deliveries

May 26 (Reuters) - China has been stalling the approval of Airbus deliveries to signal impatience with European regulators' delay in certifying Chinese-made COMAC aircraft, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

Regulatory Approvals and Delays

Role of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has delayed the final approval that allows Airbus jets to enter the country and be put into service, for the past several months, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Responses from Involved Parties

Airbus and Aviation Authorities

Airbus, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, CAAC and Comac didn’t immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Key Takeaways

  • China is using Airbus delivery delays as strategic leverage to press the EU to speed up certification of domestic COMAC aircraft (Bloomberg/Reuters) (uk.marketscreener.com)
  • The COMAC C919 has been certified in China since 2022 but faces a lengthy and uncertain European certification timeline—likely requiring between 3 to 6 years, with approval unlikely before 2028 (aviacionline.com)
  • China Eastern is expanding its Airbus fleet—including an order for 101 A320neos for delivery from 2028 to 2032—underscoring reliance on Airbus amid COMAC’s production and certification challenges (airinsight.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is China delaying Airbus approvals?
China is delaying Airbus approvals to pressure European regulators to certify homegrown Chinese-made COMAC aircraft.
Which Chinese agency is involved in the Airbus delivery delays?
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is involved in delaying final approvals for Airbus jets.
What is the issue between China and European regulators?
China is showing impatience over the delay by European regulators in certifying Chinese COMAC aircraft.
Have Airbus or Chinese regulators responded to the situation?
According to the article, Airbus, EU aviation agencies, CAAC, and COMAC have not responded to requests for comment.
How long has the delay in Airbus approvals been occurring?
Airbus approvals for jets to enter China have been delayed for several months according to the report.

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