China yesterday confirmed orders for 86 Airbus A320 family aircraft, worth a catalog price of about $6 billion.

The orders are part of an agreement for as many as 150 A320 family aircraft Airbus clinched last October during then French president Jacques Chirac's State visit to China.

Shenzhen Airlines will buy 28 jets, with Sichuan Airlines getting 18 and Hainan Airlines 13. Privately owned Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines will each purchase six. The other 15 aircraft were ordered by China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corp (CASGC). CASGC handles most of China's aircraft imports.