Airbus has indicated it is considering accelerating production of the A320 to 50 aircraft a month to meet projections for Asian demand. The European manufacturer plans to increase production soon to 44 A320s a month but has forecast it will need to go even higher to serve the demand for aircraft between now and 2030.
Airbus’ Global Market Forecast foresees the need for more than 26,900 passenger airliners with seating capacities of 100 seats and above, along with over 900 new factory-built freighter aircraft. In the same timeframe, the world’s overall passenger aircraft inventory will more than double from today’s 15,000 to more than 31,500 by 2030, Airbus predicts.
Boeing says 30,900 aircraft will be needed over the same period and has said it will need to build 60 jets a month by the end of the decade to meet demand. Airbus’ John Leahy, chief operating officer, says Airbus is not looking at going above 50 and that the 60 figure Boeing suggests is “ridiculous”.