Will Allocate A330 Assets To Single-Aisle Airplane Production

Soft demand for the Airbus A330 has Airbus admitting that it may slow production of the larger airliner in favor of the popular A320 line, according to a report from Reuters.

Airbus is likely to raise production rates on the single-aisle airliner sooner rather than later, and the European planemaker did best rival Boeing in orders in 2014 but lagged behind in deliveries, according to the report. Speaking at an annual news conference, Airbus Fabrice Bregier said that decisions on boosting A230 production and potential cuts in A330 production will both come in the next few months.

Meanwhile, Bregier defended the mammoth A380, which has not been as popular with airlines as the company had anticipated. "The best days of the A380 are ahead, he said. Boeing counters that airlines prefer smaller airliners that carriers can fill more easily.

And while there is no serious discussion of cancelling the A380 program, as was hinted at in unofficial remarks by the company finance director in December, Breiger said that the super-jumbo jet is "not an icon," and that any decision on the airplane will be strictly grounded in business.

FMI: www.airbus.com