Aircraft
Airbus Plans for Big Boost of A320 Production Rates
Suppliers of Europe’s dominant commercial aircraft OEM received notice to prepare for a 40 percent increase in A320 rate by the second quarter of 2023.
Airbus is to increase production rates for its A320 narrowbody airliner family, including the A321XLR for which assembly work began in May. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus is to increase production rates for its A320 narrowbody airliner family, including the A321XLR for which assembly work began in May. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus has notified suppliers that it plans to boost production of A320-family jets from an average of 45 per month in the fourth quarter in 2021 to 64 per month by the second quarter of 2023. In a statement issued Thursday, the company said it has also started preparing for a rate of 70 per month by the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a bullish outlook for post-Covid recovery of the narrowbody sector.