Andrew Doyle/AMSTERDAM
EADS(European Aeronautic Defence and Space) and BAE Systems have agreed to increase Airbus production rates more steeply than previously planned. Annual deliveries are expected to exceed 400 aircraft for the first time in 2002.
Meanwhile, a decision on the industrial launch of the A3XXis now expected "at the beginning of 2001", according to EADS, rather than before the end of this year as previously stated. EADS holds an 80% stake in Airbus, which is due to become an integrated company early next year, with BAE owning the balance.
Production of the single-aisle A320 family will hit 30 aircraft per month during 2002 across the two production plants in Toulouse and Hamburg. A330/A340 output in Toulouse is increasing from the current six to eight in two years time, said EADS co-chief executive Philippe Camus, speaking in Amsterdam where the company last week presented its first-half results. The move represents a further production hike of more than 10% over the previously announced 2002 target of 360 deliveries.
About 335 aircraft will be handed over in 2001, says Camus, compared with the consortium's record output of around 313 aircraft expected to be made this year. During the first nine months, Airbus delivered 218 aircraft.
By the end of September the consortium's firm backlog had increased to 1,527 aircraft, with 305 new orders booked since the beginning of the year. Camus says the pace of new orders is being strengthened by the "sustained level of profitability of the airlines" and "strong opportunities in the freighter market".
Deliveries of the stretched and longer-range A340-500/600 types are due to start in 2002, followed by the entry into service of the 100-seat A318 shrink in early 2003.
According to Camus, the industrial launch of the A3XX is a "sure event for the beginning of 2001" and 32 conditional firm orders are already signed from Emirates, Air France, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and International Lease Finance. "We are expecting some new orders very soon so we are on track with the launch of the A3XX," he says.
Deliveries of the 555-seat aircraft are due to begin in early-2006, to launch customer SIA. EADS maintains that the aircraft will cost $10.7 billion to develop.
Source: Flight International
