Friday, September 25, 2015

Airbus tackles supplier issue

Delivery of the first A321 jetliner produced at the company's new plant in Mobile, Ala., is several weeks behind schedule due to problems with a supplier. Still, Airbus said it expects to deliver it on time to JetBlue in the second quarter of 2016. Allan McArtor, chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, said there were issues with jigs and tools, the large structures that hold parts in place, as well as the tools used to join parts. But McArtor notes Airbus has enough flexibility to catch up. A second A321 for American Airlines will be delivered later in 2016. (Source: Global Trade Daily, 09/24/15) The plant, which began production in July, had its inaugural opening Sept. 14. Previous