Airbus plans to increase production on its single-aisle A320 jet line, the company said Wednesday.
“With a backlog of over 2,300 A320 Family aircraft to deliver, we need to increase production to accommodate continuing strong customer demand for these new eco-efficient aircraft,” said Tom Williams, executive vice president of programs for Airbus, in a statement.
The European jet maker will increase A320 production up to 42 aircraft monthly by the fourth quarter of 2012.
Airbus is producing 36 A320s monthly with plans to speed production to 38 aircraft monthly by August. The company already had announced another rate increase, to 40 jets monthly, in the first quarter of 2012.
Airbus’ rival, the Boeing Co., has said it will increase production on its single-aisle 737 to 38 aircraft per month by the second quarter of 2013. The Chicago-based company is increasing 737 production from 31.5 aircraft monthly to 35 by early 2012. Recently, Boeing officials have said they’re considering a rate increase above the 38 monthly already planned.
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