Airbus Group has announced plans to delay the ramp-up of A220 production by up to a year.
The news comes amid continued travel restrictions and a marked drop in demand for air travel.
The company had originally planned to accelerate its production schedule for the narrow-body from the current four per month up to 10 per month, at its main production plant in Mirabel, Quebec.
In February, Reuters reported that Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury told the agency Airbus planned to sink “between €500 million and €1 billion” into meeting this goal.
However, it seems that for now at least, these plans have been pushed back. According to Reuters, sources within the company have stated that the Canadian ramp-up will be delayed until mid-2021. The agency reports that Marcella Cortellazzi, a company spokeswoman, related the delays.
A220 production was also slated for an increase at a separate site in Mobile, Alabama. This ramp-up remains as yet unaffected. However, the Mirabel facility is expected to remain closed “until at least May 4”, in line with provincial government restrictions on non-essential business.
