February 19, 2009
Airbus will cut production rates for its A320 range of planes from October and halt the planned ramp-up of A330/A340 production as the financial crisis has made airline companies cautious in ordering new aircraft.
Airbus, part of European aerospace company EADS, said on Thursday it did not exclude further cuts in production.
Production of the A320 family would be reduced to 34 from 36 a month, while the production rates of the A330/340 would remain at 8.5 a month and not increase as was previously planned.
Delivery targets for this year remained unchanged and Airbus said that its decision for the time being would not affect jobs.
"This decision reflects Airbus' current view on market demand in times of airlines adapting their capacities and of continuing uncertainties caused by the worldwide economic crisis," it said in a statement.
Airbus aims to deliver a similar number of planes this year as it did last year when it delivered 483, a record.
(Reuters)
Airbus will cut production rates for its A320 range of planes from October and halt the planned ramp-up of A330/A340 production as the financial crisis has made airline companies cautious in ordering new aircraft.
Airbus, part of European aerospace company EADS, said on Thursday it did not exclude further cuts in production.
Production of the A320 family would be reduced to 34 from 36 a month, while the production rates of the A330/340 would remain at 8.5 a month and not increase as was previously planned.
Delivery targets for this year remained unchanged and Airbus said that its decision for the time being would not affect jobs.
"This decision reflects Airbus' current view on market demand in times of airlines adapting their capacities and of continuing uncertainties caused by the worldwide economic crisis," it said in a statement.
Airbus aims to deliver a similar number of planes this year as it did last year when it delivered 483, a record.
(Reuters)