Aviation

Airbus Alters Production Schedule Due to Engine Supply Difficulties

In a significant development for Airbus, the aerospace giant has announced adjustments to its 2024 delivery targets and production timelines, citing severe disruptions in engine supplies as a primary cause.

Airbus lowered its 2024 delivery target

Originally aiming to deliver approximately 800 airplanes in 2024, Airbus has revised this figure downwards to around 770 aircraft. This reduction follows ongoing challenges in its supply chain, exacerbated by lingering pandemic impacts and heightened parts shortages.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged the headwinds faced by the company, stressing the necessity to address these issues directly. “We are facing headwinds right now; we have to bite the bullet,” Faury remarked during a briefing with analysts.

The revised projections also include a delay in achieving a production rate of 75 narrow-body A320-family jets per month, now pushed back to 2027 from the initially planned 2026. The root of these setbacks lies partly in critical engine shortages affecting Airbus’s popular A320neo family, a direct competitor to Boeing’s 737 MAX.

Faces increased parts shortages and output delays.

Faury highlighted that engine supplies for wide-bodied jets, particularly the A330neo, have also experienced delays, albeit without impacting the A350 production timeline.

To mitigate these challenges, Airbus is reportedly in discussions with Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. to potentially acquire portions of its aerospace business, aiming to bolster its supply chain resilience. Despite these strategic adjustments, Airbus remains steadfast in fulfilling its long-term order commitments, boasting a sold-out production schedule through the end of the decade.

The industry-wide struggle to stabilize supply chains post-pandemic has further compounded Airbus’s operational hurdles. Issues ranging from labor shortages to financial instability among suppliers continue to strain production capacities across the aviation sector.

Aviation

Hamburg Hosts Airbus’ Completed A321XLR Manufacturing Line

Airbus has taken a significant step forward in its mission to modernize and expand its production capabilities with the completion of the A321XLR production line in Hamburg. This development marks a key milestone in Airbus’s strategy to enhance its industrial system, emphasizing digitalization and automation.

Hangar formerly used for A380 production

The new 24,000-square-meter automated equipping hangar, which was inaugurated by Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher and German Aerospace Coordinator Anna Christmann, represents a pivotal shift from its previous use for A380 production to becoming the hub for A321XLR assembly.

Central to the new production line is the integration of the A321XLR’s defining feature – the 13,000-liter Rear Centre Tank (RCT), which endows the aircraft with its remarkable extended range capabilities. This innovative addition is critical for the A321XLR’s success, allowing it to cover longer distances than its predecessors.

The state-of-the-art facility boasts several advanced features aimed at boosting efficiency and precision. Among these are automated crane systems designed for seamless section joining and a production line equipped with laser and sensor-controlled measurement systems to ensure accuracy.

The assembly process is further enhanced by an automated ‘pulse line’ consisting of eight stations where the nearly 24-meter-long fuselage sections are fitted with all necessary electrical, mechanical systems, windows, floor panels, and external antennas.

In the 9,600 square meters of production space within hangar H259, all components of the rear fuselages of the A321XLR are meticulously installed and mounted. Each section undergoes extensive testing immediately after system installation to guarantee quality and functionality. These fully equipped fuselage sections are then transferred to the final assembly line in Hamburg, maintaining a smooth and efficient production flow.

A321XLR orders reach approximately 550 units.

Notably, the new hangar also aligns with Airbus’s environmental goals. A rooftop solar system now generates a portion of the electricity required for aircraft construction, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of the manufacturing process.

The A321XLR has quickly become a standout in Airbus’s product lineup, with orders climbing to approximately 550 units. “We’ve secured around 550 orders, which is impressive for a product at this stage,” an Airbus representative noted, underscoring the strong market demand and the aircraft’s appeal.