A new assembly line in China will boost production of Airbus” A320 family from 32 to 40 per month by the end of 2009.
The new Chinese line in Tianjin is a joint venture between a Chinese consortium led by the Tianjin Free Trade Zone and Airbus that will roll out two aircraft per month by the end of 2009 and four by 2011.
The increase to 40 will be as a result of successive ramping up by Airbus that will see 34 aircraft per month produced by March 2008, 36 by December next year and the final total in conjunction with the Chinese assembly line, geared up to receive aircraft sections from Europe.
The Toulouse-headquartered company says the major increase is as a result of its order backlog that now stands at 2,500 aircraft and continuing strong demand.
”This production increase confirms again that we continue to be an outstanding growth industry,” said Airbus president and CEO, Louis Gallois. ”The quick implementation of Power8 [Airbus restructuring plan] will pave the way to secure the future with profitable growth for Airbus.”
The A330/A340 family is also due to be ramped up to nine per month in 2009, with a further increase ”to be decided in the coming weeks.”