Airbus sees no quick fix to the A321neo’s production problems but is confident the issues have been stabilised as it manages the ramp-up in output.
Airbus sees no quick fix to the A321neo’s production problems but is confident the issues have been stabilised as it manages the ramp-up in output.
“Our priority is to prepare the production system for sustainable long-term growth with more A321s. That’s one of the areas of challenge we have to manage,” said Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury, speaking at the Dubai air show.
“We are stabilising our delays in spite of the ramp-up, and then from 2021 we want to be back on track. Between stabilising and resolving, it takes more time.”
With three versions of the A321 being produced simultaneously – the A321ceo, A320neo and A321 ACF/LR – Faury talks of the dual problems of “a ramp-up in numbers and ramp-up in complexity”.
He adds: “We see the demand for the XLR stronger than what we were expecting, so this will deserve further investment. So I’m focusing more on 2021, 2022 and 2023 and making sure we do the right things to be managing this ramp-up.”
