Airbus returns to success. And let it be known. More than two weeks after the international air show at Le Bourget, which resulted in the victory of the European aircraft manufacturer over its American rival in terms of number of orders, Guillaume Faury is doing it again. Still on the nose of Boeing, which stopped production of the 757 in 2004 and gave it no successor. Since then, the American giant has abandoned its so-called “mid-market” (MMA) aircraft project, leaving clear skies for Airbus.
Proof of the joy of the leader of Airbus: a pink tie tied around his neck. “I see life in pink,” he said from the platform facing four ministers, local elected officials and a host of employees gathered at the inauguration of the final assembly plant. of the A321 LR, this Monday, July 10. This single-aisle A320 family did not have an assembly line in France. An anomaly now fixed. Two years ago, in May 2021, the aircraft manufacturer decided to transform the Jean-Luc Lagardère factory in Blagnac, which assembled the A380, into a modern and innovative industrial site: digital production control using tablets and smartphones, automated logistics for the distribution of parts, use of lightweight robots for the assembly of fuselage sections, etc.
“This factory responds to the ramp-up of the A320s, the biggest success in aviation”, welcomed Guillaume Faury, who recalls that the group has received 8,000 orders for this medium-haul aircraft, including 4000 in the A321 version.
“Solidarity of the sector”
The Lagardère factory is at the dawn of its new life. The site, which currently employs 500 people, should quickly ramp up. A second line is also planned to absorb the A320s assembled so far on the Saint-Martin- du-Touch, near Toulouse.
A defender of reindustrialisation, Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy, made the success of Airbus an example to illustrate the government’s strategy. “Deindustrialization is a political and economic fault. We are relaunching industry throughout France. And you have to follow Airbus’ recipe to train, produce and innovate,” he said during the ceremony, recalling that the state has injected 2.3 billion euros in support. sector in full turbulence and is preparing to pay 300 million euros in annual credits to Corac (Council for civil aeronautical research) until 2027.
A boost, however, accompanied by a negotiated condition that the principals must respect, warned the minister. “We expect Airbus and Safran to show solidarity with an entire sector by absorbing the costs of raw materials and energy,” Bruno Le Maire told ToulÉco on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Audrey Sommazi
In the photos: Airbus inaugurated its new final assembly line for the A320 family in Toulouse during a ceremony attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune, the Minister Delegate for Industry Roland Lescure and Minister Delegate for Local Authorities and Rural Affairs Dominique Faure, as well as several hundred Airbus employees. Photos: Remy Gabalda -ToulEco
2023-07-10 18:57:19
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