Airbus adding A321 production capabilities

Airbus has taken the decision to create new A321 production capabilities at its site in Toulouse, aiming to provide more flexibility for the aircraft production, while keeping the overall single-aisle industrial capacity in Toulouse flat.

By mid-2022 the current A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse will accommodate a digitally-enabled A321 line, which Airbus said would be a “step to modernise the A320 production system in Toulouse.” Currently the only European Final Assembly Line to assemble A321s is at Airbus’ Hamburg site. The aircraft is also being assembled and delivered from Mobile, Alabama, USA.

“We are enjoying an unprecedented high demand for our winning A320neo Family and especially its A321 Long Range (LR) and Xtra Long Range (XLR) derivatives,” said Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Chief Operating Officer. “In order to optimize the industrial flow, we have decided to increase our global A321 production capacity and flexibility as well as to establish a next generation Final Assembly Line in Toulouse.”

The company said Toulouse was selected for several reasons, such as competitiveness, time to market, investment cost, available floor space and resources.