Airbus has resumed work on the modernization of their A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse. The improvements will provide increased flexibility throughout the company’s global industrial production system to respond to market recovery and future demand.
On Wednesday (May 12, 2021), Airbus announced that they have resumed modernization work on their A320 final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse. The improvements will provide increased flexibility throughout the company’s global industrial production system. The modernized and digitally-enabled A320/A321 FAL will be installed in the former A380 Lagardére facility, replacing one of the original A320 lines in Toulouse. The company expects the new FAL to be operational by the end of 2022.
Initial plans to introduce A321 production capabilities in Toulouse were paused at the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, following Airbus’ decision to reduce commercial aircraft production by approximately 40 percent. With the market now recovering and the possibility of returning to pre-pandemic single-aisle production levels between 2023 and 2025, Airbus is resuming the A320 final assembly line modernization project.
Currently, only Hamburg and Mobile, Alabama (U.S.) are configured to assemble Airbus A321s. The modernized A320 FAL in Toulouse will help to improve working conditions, while improving the overall industrial flow, quality and competitiveness of the company’s single-aisle production system. Additionally, the higher level production flexibility will support the entry-into-service of the A321XLR from Hamburg starting in 2023. The Airbus A320 Family is the world’s best-selling commercial aircraft, with over 15,500 aircraft sold to more than 320 global customers. The current A320 Family backlog includes over 5,650 aircraft.
Source: Airbus