(Bloomberg) -- Airbus SE is discussing a large plane order from China during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit this weekend, according to people familiar with the plans.
The size of the order is in flux, while talks are focused on Airbus's A320 single-aisle and A330 and A350 wide-body jets, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing the negotiations. Reuters earlier reported that the Toulouse-based company was in talks on the sale of at least 100 planes going to Chinese carriers.
China, which purchases its jets collectively before distributing them to various airlines, now accounts for almost a quarter of Airbus deliveries. China Aircraft Leasing Group in the past week placed a $7 billion order for 65 narrow-body jets.
A spokesman for Airbus said the company is constantly in talks with customers including China about future aircraft orders, declining to comment on any specifics.
Macron is due to arrive on Jan 8. with a delegation of about 100 people, about half of which represent French businesses including Airbus, Dassault Aviation SA, BNP Paribas SA, Societe Generale SA, Natixis SA, and Accor SA. Airbus Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier is set to take part in the three-day trip, one of the people said.
--With assistance from Gregory Viscusi and Helene Fouquet
To contact the reporters on this story: Benjamin Katz in London at bkatz38@bloomberg.net, Ania Nussbaum in Paris at anussbaum5@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net, Tom Lavell
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.
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