Airbus mulls output hike

Airbus is talking to suppliers about the possibility of raising production of the A320 family of aircraft to 50 a month as early as 2017. That’s what a senior industry source told Reuters on Tuesday. Airbus has asked suppliers to be ready to adjust to production of 48 aircraft a month during 2016, rising to 50 a month in 2017. The increase would stretch an existing target that calls for 46 of the single-aisle jets a month by the second quarter of 2016, up from a current rate of 42. A spokesman declined to comment ahead of Airbus Group’s annual results due to be released on Friday. (Source: Reuters, 02/24/15) Gulf Coast note: The Airbus A320 FAL in Mobile is scheduled to open this year. The first major shipment of sections from Europe will arrive in June. Previous