Airbus has chosen to raise production output for the A330 programme, reversing a previous decision to drop the rate for the transition to the A330neo.
It will increase the monthly rate to seven aircraft in 2017 having previously opted to cut the figure to six this year.
Airbus had been facing a reduction in demand for the baseline twinjet type ahead of the shift to the re-engined A330neo which will enter service in late 2017.
But the airframer had indicated in January that demand had been somewhat revived, and chief operating officer for customers John Leahy described the type as being “production-constrained”.
He had signalled that there was room to raise the rate to seven or eight aircraft per month.
“You can see that we are watching the market very carefully,” said Airbus Group financial head Harald Wilhelm during the company’s full-year briefing on 24 February, adding that this had enabled Airbus to make the “correction” to the rate.
Group chief executive Tom Enders adds that the airframer had made a “very prudent decision” to keep the A330 in the market and “rejuvenate” the type.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
