Airbus revives plan for new single-aisle jet plant in Toulouse

Plans to install a new production line for its A321neo jet, has been revised by Airbus. It is to be established in Toulouse, France. This reshapes the production of the medium-haul single-aisle jets. As a result of this, the factories can lead out of the coronavirus crisis.

By the end of 2022, the new line is planned to be installed in the deserted assembly hall. This has been announced by the European plane maker. In this same place only, once they had built the now-abandoned A380 superjumbo.

In 2019, airbus has decided to halt the output of the world’s largest jetliner. And so, the last A380 rolled out in March, leaving the world’s second-largest industrial building in limbo. To add a new line with state-of-the art facilities, the Airbus has planned to use at least part of the Jean-Luc Lagardere building. This is to meet demand for the smaller A321neo. And this has seen a rise in demand to represent more than half of its single-aisle backlog.

That will replace one of the original lines used for the A320, which is a slightly smaller and earlier model, in Toulouse. Due to the pandemic situation, there was a low demand last year, which resulted in the cut of global production. Hence, similar plans were suspended in April last year.

By the end of 2022, Airbus tells suppliers to be ready for a further recovery in single-aisle output to 53 jets a month as a new move.