TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus has confirmed adjustments to the production rates for its A380 civil airliner and A400M military transport. The new plan, which has been presented to the European Works Council, involves production of six A380s and eight A400Ms per year starting from 2020. Airbus is now beginning a formal social process with European and national officials to analyze the potential implications of the action on the company's workforce and to start joint mitigation efforts.
At this stage, Airbus estimates that the maximum impact of the measures will affect up to 3,700 positions at sites across France, Germany, Spain, and the U.K. Airbus is confident that it will be able to propose opportunities to most of the affected employees in programs that are ramping up activity.
Airbus said that, at a baseline of six deliveries per year, it can produce the A380 in an industrially efficient manner in coming years. It added that this baseline enables it to pursue sales campaigns that may lead to higher A380 production levels.
On the A400M program, Airbus plans to build 15 A400Ms in 2018 and 11 in 2019. Production will then decline to eight aircraft per year as of 2020. Airbus said that this adjustment is based on discussions with the A400M launch customer nations, and that it is pursuing export opportunities that could take A400M production beyond this level.
Airbus said that it has to ensure the best possible production flow for its products, and that the rate adjustment decisions provide clear visibility for customers, the supply chain, and employees over the coming years.
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