Airbus to slash A380 and A400M production rate from 2020

Airbus confirms the formal adjustment to production rates for its A380 super-jumbo and A400M military airlifter programs. The new plan...

Airbus confirms the formal adjustment to production rates for its A380 super-jumbo and A400M military airlifter programs.

The new plan, which was presented to the European Works Council today, involves the production of six A380s per year and eight A400Ms per year from 2020.

Airbus achieved a peak 19 per year production rate for A400M in 2017, which will be reduced to fifteen in 2018 and eleven units in 2019.

This adjustment is based on discussions with the A400M Launch Customer Nations. Airbus pursues export opportunities beyond this level.

The adjustment of the A380 production rate follows a recent order from Emirates for upto 36 aircraft, which provides visibility to the program for the years to come. As previously announced, at a baseline of 6 deliveries per year, Airbus can produce the A380 in an industrial efficient way over the coming years.

This baseline allows Airbus to pursue further sales campaigns which may lead to higher production levels.

Airbus estimates the maximum impact of these measures will affect up to 3,700 positions at sites across the Company’s home countries of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.