Airbus A330 Production Boost Planned


Mar 9, 2012


By Robert Wall wall@aviationweek.com
PARIS


Airbus could boost A330 production to 11 aircraft a month in the second quarter of 2014 if the aircraft’s order book is not adversely affected by retaliatory actions against the EU’s inclusion of airlines in its emissions trading scheme (ETS).

Current production rates produce nine A330s each month and the manufacturer already was on track to build 10 A330 a month next year.
While these production increases are planned, Louis Gallois, CEO of Airbus-parent EADS, is concerned about deliveries to China as Beijing is contemplating a block on widebody deals because of its opposition to Chinese airlines being covered under the ETS.

While an order form 10 A380s is attracting most interest, six A330 deliveries are also at risk next year and 19 more by the end of 2014, and parts production of those is underway. There are 10 more A330s beyond then, although work has yet to begin on those aircraft.