In the fast-paced world of aviation manufacturing, Airbus is making significant moves to overcome the constraints of new aircraft deliveries. One key milestone is their preparation to deliver a China-manufactured A321neo jetliner to a European client – an unprecedented move for the company. Wizz Air, the European customer, confirmed their purchase of the A321neo jet from Airbus’ Tianjin final assembly line, marking a new chapter in Airbus’ global production network adjustment.
Since the Tianjin final assembly line’s establishment in 2008, Airbus has primarily used it to deliver aircraft to Chinese airlines, catering to China’s burgeoning air travel demand. Occasionally, it has also served other carriers such as Malaysia’s AirAsia.
Navigating Challenges in Supply Chain
Both Airbus and its US-based rival, Boeing, have experienced supply chain challenges in recent years. Airbus had to adjust its delivery targets downwards twice last year as these problems persisted.
According to Airbus’ 2022 financial report, the company targets an adjusted EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) of €6 billion ($6.5 billion) for the year. They plan to deliver around 720 commercial aircraft, most of which belong to the A320 series. Along with suppliers, Airbus has revised its A320 series aircraft capacity increase plans. The ambition is to hit a monthly production rate of 65 aircraft by the end of 2024 and ramp it up to 75 aircraft per month by 2026.
Accommodating the Growing Popularity of the A321 Model
In response to the A321 model’s increasing popularity, Airbus is upgrading its final assembly lines worldwide. In November last year, the company announced the adaptation and upgrade of the Tianjin A320 series aircraft final assembly line to cater to the A321 model.
After the completion of the Tianjin facility upgrade last year, Airbus’ latest final assembly facility in Toulouse is close to finishing. The global industrial system of Airbus will soon accommodate A321 aircraft assembly, meeting the growing market demand for this model and reaching the company’s production capacity goals.
Airbus Soars to New Heights in China
On March 24, 2023, Airbus marked another significant achievement by delivering the first A321neo aircraft assembled at the Tianjin final assembly line to China Eastern Airlines. This assembly line has operated for over 14 years since the delivery of the first A320 aircraft in 2009, assembling and delivering more than 600 A320 series aircraft.
On April 6, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury visited China with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This visit yielded multiple bulk aircraft purchase orders for Airbus domestically and an agreement to enhance production capacity, including the establishment of a second final assembly line in Tianjin.
In an interview, Faury unveiled plans for a second Tianjin final assembly line, capable of producing both A320 and A321 models. This line is expected to commence operations by the end of 2025, taking Airbus’ count to a total of 10 final assembly lines globally.
Airbus’ strategic moves to expand its global production network, particularly in China, underscore its commitment to overcoming delivery constraints and meeting growing demand. This strategic direction not only propels the company towards its production goals but also promises to meet the escalating global demand for its A321 model.
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