Airbus walks political tightrope with US, China expansion

By David Shepardson and Tim Hepher

WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) -Airbus is set to inaugurate a second U.S. assembly line on Oct 13, followed by expansion of a similar facility in China several days later, in back-to-back ceremonies designed to avoid falling foul of a tricky trade climate, industry sources said.

The planemaker has also been negotiating to sell up to 500 planes to China, a goal first reported by Reuters in April, but is likely to secure only part of the planned order immediately to coincide with the factory expansion, the sources added.

Airbus declined comment on production or pending orders.

The world’s largest planemaker is increasing capacity as it seeks a sharp increase in production of its top-selling A320neo family to 75 jets a month in 2027. Plans include doubling c