According to CGTN, the acquisition exceeds 249 billion yuan (nearly 37 billion dollars), and all three domestic airlines have already sent orders to the European manufacturer.

The model ordered is the A320neo, China Southern and Air China ordered 96 each, while China Eastern ordered 100. Airbus plans to deliver them between 2023 and 2017.

This is the second major aircraft purchase that China has made from the European corporation, after 300 planes it acquired in 2019.

By 2025, China plans to increase the number of airports and aircraft available for civil aviation operations, including those used in the commercial field and in emergencies in the event of disasters.

China will also increase the number of aircraft to 3,500 and will continue incorporating more drones into tasks in areas such as agriculture and industry.

Official data show that China has 2,000 aircraft, 339 airports and 517,000 drones registered in the civil aviation sector.

In addition to the aforementioned objectives of the plan, some Chinese companies are working on the development of drone taxis in order to accelerate urban mobility.

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