MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / LONDON AND SIMON WARBURTON / PARIS
Major airframe manufacturers have responded to the increasing number of airlines cutting capacity by trimming their output targets for the next couple of years.
The economic slowdown has started to affect fleet planning, but so far is manifesting itself only with a drop in the number of new orders or the delaying of option conversions. Production cuts are therefore relatively minor, with Airbus deciding to freeze its output growth at next year's level and Boeing trimming back plans for 2002 and 2003. Whether more drastic action will be called for later depends on whether the slowdown forces customers to start cancelling firm orders, as happened in the recession of the early 1990s and the Asian downturn several years ago.
Airbus will deliver about 330 aircraft this year, and increase output to 400 next year. "We are considering holding at 400 in 2003, rather than increasing production to 450," says Airbus. "The decision on reduction will probably be made this autumn. It could affect both the A320 and the A330/A340."
Boeing output is rising from 490 in 2000, which was the bottom of its last production cycle, to 530 this year. It had planned to maintain that level through 2002-03, but this will now be trimmed to 510-520 in 2002 and 490-510 in 2003.
The two manufacturers' combined cutbacks equate to a reduction of about 5% in planned production over 2002-2003.
Source: Flight International
