Airbus has officially inaugurated its state-of-the-art A320-family final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse.
The newly opened A321-capable final assembly line in Toulouse marks a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation of Airbus’ global industrial system. This FAL will contribute to the production rate ramp-up to 75 A320-family aircraft per month by 2026, while catering to the increased demand for A321s, which currently represent around 60% of the total A320-family backlog. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury expressed his satisfaction with the new facility, which joins the company’s worldwide network of final assembly sites, including four FALs in Hamburg, Germany; two in Toulouse, France; two in Mobile, United States and two in Tianjin, China, all capable of assembling the A321.
The latest A320-family final assembly line incorporates various innovative features aimed at optimising product quality, efficiency and setting new standards for health, safety, and sustainability. Notable innovations include digital production control utilising tablets and smartphones to reduce paper consumption, automated logistics for efficient parts distribution and the use of lightweight robots for assembly.
Located in the former A380 “Jean-Luc Lagardère” assembly building, the new FAL commenced initial operations at the end of 2022 with the delivery of the first fuselage sections. The rollout of the first fully assembled aircraft in this facility, an A321, is expected to occur by the end of this year. Over the next few years, the industrial site will progressively increase its operations, directly employing approximately 700 workers by 2025.
