Airbus to boost A320 production rate
20 May 2011
With a huge order backlog on hand, European commercial aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, announced Wednesday it will raise production rate of its A320 family to 42 aircraft per month beginning in the fourth quarter 2012. Airbus currently produces 36 of these aircraft a month, a rate which is scheduled to increase to 38 in August 2011 and to 40 in the first quarter of 2012.
''With a backlog of over 2,300 A320 family aircraft to deliver, we need to increase production to accommodate continuing strong customer demand for these new eco-efficient aircraft,'' said Airbus EVP-programmes Tom Williams.
With the rate rising by two aircraft per month in August, it said it is ''well on track to exceed previous years' deliveries.''
Airbus delivered 401 A320 family aircraft last year and as of 30 April 2011 deliveries numbered 132.