Airbus has inaugurated the fourth Hamburg A320 family production line.
Making use of digital technologies and a more flexible industrial set-up, the innovative state-of-the-art line is a key enabler for ramping up the single aisle programme to 60 aircraft per month by mid-2019.
Frank Horch, Hamburg senator of economy, transport and innovation, and Thomas Jarzombek, federal government coordinator of German aerospace policy, witnessed the milestone together with Guillaume Faury, president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, and 500 distinguished guests at a special ceremony in Hamburg.
“The inauguration of our latest, most modern A320 production line opens a new chapter in efficient, digital aircraft manufacturing,” said Faury.
“With these new technologies we are building our aircraft more efficiently, a key enabler for higher production rates.
“I would like to thank the teams, who pushed this newest Airbus production standard from concept to reality.”
With more than 14,000 A320ceo and A320neo family aircraft ordered and over 8,100 delivered, the A320 is the world’s most successful single-aisle aircraft family.
Incorporating the latest state-of-the-art technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, the A320neo family provides 15 per cent fuel savings at delivery and 20 per cent by 2020.
To date the A320neo family has captured nearly a 60 per cent market share with more than 6,000 orders from 100 customers.
The A320 family aircraft are manufactured globally, at Airbus sites in Europe, China and the US.
In addition to the new production line, Airbus also inaugurated a larger and modernised Hamburg A320 family delivery centre with more customer areas, more efficient delivery processes and increased hospitality services.