European manufacturer seeks to extend outsourcing as it aims for more flexibility
Airbus has begun gearing up for a massive production boost to over 450 aircraft annually from 2006, but is already planning for the next downturn as it organises its production flow.
Chief executive Noel Forgeard says that improving market conditions will see deliveries increase this year, against earlier predictions of flat output, ahead of a major increase in 2005 and 2006.
"We will deliver more aircraft than the planned 305," says Forgeard. "Single-aisle [A320 family] will increase in three stages from 20 a month to 30 by the first half of 2006, and long range [A330/A340] up from six to eight a month by the second quarter of next year."
Based on Flight International estimates, this would take the annual output to around 450 aircraft (excluding the A300 and A380). Of these, around 360 will be single-aisle models built at Toulouse and Hamburg, and around 90 the A330/A340 produced in Toulouse. Addtionally, A380 production is gradually ramping up to reach four a month by 2006.
When it reaches the new rates, output will be almost 40% greater than Airbus's previous record of 325 aircraft, achieved in 2001, and at the level planned for 2003-4 before the 2001 downturn.
Chief operating officer Gustav Humbert says that Airbus will not give a precise figure for 2004 deliveries until later this year once it establishes whether every customer will take its aircraft as planned, but adds that he does not expect the 2004 total to be significantly higher than the 305 previously planned.
The gear-up has begun and will require an investment of less than $200 million, mainly in final assembly infrastructure, says Humbert.
"As we ramp up we are thinking about the downturn, so we are keeping flexibility by outsourcing," says Humbert, who is to fly to China this week to negotiate increased work packages for the region. "The ramp-up is an opportunity to increase the amount of work with existing suppliers as well as to add new suppliers/countries," he adds. "We will go more global in terms of manufacturing."
* Boeing Commercial Airplanes president Alan Mulally says output will rise from 285 aircraft this year to about 300 in 2005, with the models that are under most pressure for rate increases being the 737 family and the 747.
Source: Flight International
