Completion Of Production "Marks New Chapter In The A340 Success Story"

Airbus has offically announced the end of the A340 program after not taking an order for the four-engine jet for over two years. In a statment posted on the company website, the planemaker said that the production run has ended twenty years after the A340s maiden flight, reflecting "changing market dynamics."

"While new aircraft are no longer to be built, Airbus will continue to fully support the current global fleet of A340s – which are providing reliable ultra long-haul flight services with customers around the world – as long as they are in operation. Four versions of the A340 were produced by Airbus: the A340-200, A340-300, A340-500 and A340-600. Providing extended operating ranges of up to 9,000 nautical miles, this product line allows operators to eliminate unproductive stops, open new routes and match service standards to targeted market needs on very long-haul segments.

Analysts said that the move came following changes in regulations allowing for extended operation of twin engine aircraft over water. With twin-engine jets like Boeing's 777 able to carry a similar number of people on the same routes more efficiently, the demand for the A340 decreased to zero.

Analyst Frost and Sullivan said in a news release that the end of the program was a "positive" move for EADS Airbus, and that it is optimistic about their future as Airbus commercial aircraft orders are expected to pile up reaching 630 in 2013, before starting to decline. The analyst said demand is mainly driven by the Asia Pacific region, representing currently 54% of total gross orders and growing.

Frost and Sullivan says that Airbus commercial division is by far the strongest contributor in the Group’s overall revenues. The acquisition of Satair and Metron and the awaiting completion of acquisition of Vizada will further strengthen the commercial aviation division of EADS. In a time where defence budgets are being cut down, we consider this to be a positive strategic expansion of the Group’s product portfolio.  

The Group is expected to deliver according to its vision 2020. Challenges to face will be the execution of the A400M, A380 and A350XWB programs.

Airbus A350 XWB Assembly Facility

Along those lines, the first A350 XWB fuselage section has begun its sea journey to Hamburg. Premium AEROTEC is delivering an assembled A350 XWB fuselage section 13/14 to Airbus for the first time. After being completed in Nordenham, the first section left the plant and was prepared for shipment by sea to Hamburg. Securely packaged in a special transport container, Premium AEROTEC's largest A350 XWB component rolled out of the assembly hall and on to the plant's dock.

The fuselage section takes about 12 hours to be shipped to Hamburg. On arrival, Airbus will equip it with system installations and prepare it for final assembly, which will take place in Toulouse, France.

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.frost.com