AIRBUS yesterday achieved its commitment to produce 5 percent of the A350 XWB airframe in China after it signed a contract with CAC Commercial Aircraft Co.

Under the deal, CAC Commercial Aircraft, a Chengdu-based subsidiary of China's largest airplane maker Aviation Industry Corp of China, will become the sole supplier of the A350 XWB spoilers and droop panels.

"With this contract, we have reached our objective to be part of a global aeronautical manufacturing chain," said Wang Guangya, president of CAC Commercial Aircraft. "We have long been a supplier to Airbus and have been a partner in several cooperation projects with Airbus."

Klaus Richter, executive vice president of procurement of Airbus, said that the signing of the deal has "accomplished our commitment to manufacture 5 percent of the A350 XWB airframe in China."

Industrial cooperation between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry is expected to yield nearly US$200 million in 2010 and US$450 million in 2015.