Airbus expects further postponements and cancellations of A320 Aircraft Orders

This week, JetBlue Airways deferred delivery of 21 A320s for up to five years, while Qantas cancelled an order for an A321. Airbus currently delivers 34 narrow body aircraft per month. By the end of 2009, it plans to increase production to approximately 40 aircraft per month.

Meanwhile, Airbus confirmed that its Tianjin A320 assembly plant is scheduled to commence operations in Aug-08 (Flight International, 28-May-08). The plant is expected to deliver its first aircraft to Sichuan Airlines in Jun-09 and eventually to produce up to four aircraft per month.

Airbus: “I expect more postponements and some cancellations, but very few cancellations. There will also be some rescheduling from [customers in] India...One of our worries is that the financial situation of the airlines could be [negatively affected] by the oil price... For the time being we do not see the consequences, but we are monitoring closely the situation,” John Leahy, Chief Commercial Officer. Source: Wall Street Journal, 29-May-08.

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