Airbus Inaugurates New A321neo Assembly Line as Demand for Small Jets Surges

Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, France, Airbus Plant, Airbus A321neo taxiing on the airport runway.

Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, has unveiled a new assembly line for its A321neo passenger jet in Toulouse, France. The assembly line is located in a hangar that was previously dedicated to building the now-discontinued A380 superjumbo. The move marks a shift in focus from larger aircraft to single-aisle designs, which are experiencing renewed popularity due to their extended range and high demand. The A321neo is the largest variant of the A320 series and has gained significant traction since its relaunch in 2010, coinciding with a surge in demand fueled by favorable interest rates.

The Jean-Luc Lagardere plant’s refurbished assembly line is partially automated and is expected to create 700 jobs by 2026. This figure represents about half of the employment level during the production of the A380. The opening of the assembly line aligns with Airbus’ strategy to efficiently address the growing number of orders.

The company plans to establish a total of 10 A320 assembly lines worldwide, with expansion projects already underway in the United States and China. The first aircraft from the new line is scheduled for completion in late 2023, with deliveries expected in the following year.

The competition between Airbus and its rival, Boeing, has shifted to production strategies as both companies strive to fulfill their substantial order backlogs efficiently. The new assembly line is located within the world’s second-largest building by usable space, alongside stores equipped with robotic pickers that assist workers by selecting parts and tools.

Additional robots will be deployed for the assembly of aircraft sections. Airbus aims to increase the total output of the A320 family from the current rate of around 45 per month to 75 per month by 2026, although some suppliers have expressed skepticism about achieving this ambitious target.

To optimize the utilization of the expansive plant, an adjacent bay will accommodate the existing A320-family production line, which will be relocated from its current site, originally home to the Concorde assembly. Boeing is also realigning its production facilities to prioritize smaller aircraft over larger ones.

While the new assembly line breathes new life into the once-abandoned A380 hangar, a separate section of the plant will be dedicated to an 18-month program for inspecting and repairing A380s, addressing the issue of cracks discovered in wing spars.