Aircraft
For Airbus, Boeing, Supply Chains Limit More Rate Hikes
Plans call for narrowbody production at both Airbus and Boeing to reach 42 a month by 2014, but the extent to which either company can extend its rates muc
Airbus this spring decided to raise its A320 production rate to 42 a month starting in 2013, but supply-chain limits could thwart aspirations to go to 44. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus this spring decided to raise its A320 production rate to 42 a month starting in 2013, but supply-chain limits could thwart aspirations to go to 44. (Photo: Airbus)

Plans call for narrowbody production at both Airbus and Boeing to reach 42 a month by 2014, but the extent to which either company can extend its rates much beyond that level will depend on the supply chain more than the potential capacity at the airframers’ respective factories.

During his company’s second-quarter earnings call with securities analysts, EADS CEO Louis Gallois predicted that Airbus would sell more than 1,000 airplanes this year, following a banner Paris Air Show that raised the European manufacturer’s gross order tally to 777 for the year, consisting mainly of narrowbodies.