Airbus Revamps Toulouse Facility To Boost A320neo Production: Report

Airbus SE EADSY has reportedly embarked on constructing a new assembly line for its A320neo-family aircraft in Toulouse, which is set to replace an older, less efficient one and will help accelerate production starting next year.

The initiative will not increase the number of assembly lines but aims to modernize and expedite the production of the popular A320neo/A321neo family to meet growing demand amid supply constraints, reported Reuters.

Last year, Airbus added a production line for the A321neo model at the former A380 superjumbo facility, bringing the total number of narrow-body lines in Toulouse to two and the global count to eight.

The report noted that the next phase involves relocating the original Toulouse A320 line from its current spot in the former Concorde assembly hall to a new location within the ex-A380 plant, one of the world’s largest industrial buildings.

Construction on this new line is underway in a bay next to the A321neo line that opened last year. An Airbus spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the new line will become operational in 2025, with activities gradually shifting from the current facility.

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Launched 38 years apart, the supersonic Concorde and the double-decker A380 both made history but failed commercially, partly due to high fuel costs.

Now, Airbus’ primary focus is to tackle supply chain issues and boost production of its best-selling A320neo, a critical model for the company’s profits.

Despite the partial repurposing of the A380 plant, there remains ample space to add more production lines, the report mentioned. Currently, Airbus uses the remaining parts of the semi-deserted factory to repair wing-spar cracks on some existing A380s.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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