Airbus may increase A320 build rate

Airbus is considering an increasing in the production rate of its popular A320 single-aisle, medium-haul jetliner. That would take it beyond 42 planes per month, sales chief John Leahy told Reuters on Tuesday. But Leahy declined to say when a decision would be made. Boeing recently raised its production target for the competing 737 aircraft to 47 per month from a previous target of 42 per month. (Source: Reuters, 11/19/13) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. That plant at the Brookley Aeroplex is slated to assemble four aircraft per month, or 40 to 50 per year.