Airbus breaks ground on A350XWB assembly line
Published 7:42 am Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Airbus began work today on its final assembly line for its new A350 XWB aircraft and vowed to keep its new jet on time.
“This plane must enter service in 2013. We have sold 478 so far and it is out of the question that we can be late,” A350 program chief Didier Evrard told reporters on Wednesday.
“We are doing everything at Airbus and among our suppliers to ensure it is on time.”
In its new A350 factory in Toulouse, France, the jet maker will join the fuselage and wings. Airbus will conduct testing in the A330/A340 building. The photovoltaic roofing will provide much of the building’s electricity requirements.
“The detailed definition freeze at the end of 2008 and the start of construction work on our new Final Assembly line confirm that the A350 XWB is making steady progress,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
Airbus has won 478 orders for its composites-based A350 XWB.
The company will report its 2008 orders and deliveries totals tomorrow.
