Airbus Wins Spanish Tech Exemption and Secures 85 Jet Orders Worth $8.2 Billion
Spain granted Airbus permission to produce aircraft and drones with Israeli technology at its Spanish plants despite a two-month ban on such imports. CALC (BVI), China Aircraft Leasing Group's unit, agreed to buy 30 A320neo jets, while Spring Airlines and Juneyao plan 30 and 25 A320-family aircraft deals worth $8.2 billion.
1. Spain Grants EADSF Exemption for Israeli Technology
On December 30, the Spanish government issued a one-off waiver allowing Airbus operations under the EADSF program to continue using Israeli‐developed avionics and sensor components at its Seville and Getafe facilities. This decision reverses part of the dual-use ban imposed two months earlier, which had halted all military and dual-use imports from Israel in response to security concerns. According to official ministry figures, this exemption covers 12 distinct Israeli suppliers whose products are integrated into the A320neo flight control systems and the Eurodrone surveillance drones, securing continuity for over 150 aircraft currently in final assembly and sustaining some 4,000 local jobs directly tied to those supply chains.
2. CALC Secures 30-Unit A320neo Purchase for EADSF Fleet Expansion
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings, through its BVI-registered division CALC (BVI) and under the International Financing Vehicle framework of EADSF, inked a purchase agreement for 30 Airbus A320neo jets on December 31. The deal, valued at an estimated $3.2 billion list price, marks the largest single order for EADSF’s Chinese leasing portfolio this year. The aircraft, each fitted with Leap-1A engines and a high-density 186-seat configuration, are slated for delivery between Q3 2025 and Q2 2027, bolstering CALC’s utilization rate target from 92% to 96% as it addresses surging demand for medium-haul capacity across Southeast Asia.
3. Spring and Juneyao Airlines Commit Up to $8.2 Billion in A320-Family Jets via EADSF
In filings published on December 30, Chinese carriers Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines revealed separate framework agreements to acquire 30 and 25 Airbus A320-family aircraft, respectively, through EADSF leasing structures. The combined orders, with a combined list-price valuation of approximately $8.2 billion, include options for additional A320neo and A321neo models. Spring Airlines intends to deploy its 30-jet tranche for new routes into South Korea and Japan, targeting a 15% increase in international seat capacity by 2026. Juneyao’s 25-jet commitment is aligned with its domestic fleet renewal, expected to lower average fuel burn per seat by 12% and reduce operating costs by $1.8 million per aircraft annually.