by Tim Hepher
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Airbus has confirmed plans to ramp up production of A320 Family aircraft, with a target of 75 aircraft per month by 2025, up 50% from current levels, as the aeronautical group published better than expected quarterly results on Wednesday.
The world’s largest aircraft manufacturer has already started to increase production of this aircraft against the backdrop of the lifting of health restrictions and a rebound in demand for travel, with a target of 65 A320 family aircraft produced monthly by summer 2023, compared to 50 planes per month currently.
Airbus said on Wednesday it would aim higher and continue to ramp up monthly production beyond the first half of 2023 to 75 aircraft per month by 2025.
The announcement comes amid heightened risks of disruptions in supply chains, which have some experts saying that short-term production will be affected.
The group’s chief executive, Guillaume Faury, said in a statement that the increase in production would benefit the global aviation industry as a whole.
Airbus said its first-quarter operating profit rose 82% to 1.26 billion euros on the back of higher deliveries and a one-time change in pension calculations, despite the impact of sanctions against Russia for its offensive in Ukraine.
The group’s turnover increased over the January-March period by 15%, to 12 billion euros.
Airbus, which left its financial targets for 2022 unchanged, has also confirmed the postponement of its new A321XLR aircraft to early 2024.
(Report Tim Hepher; French version Jean Terzian, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)
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