Airbus officially unveiled the first Airbus A321neo to roll off the production line in Toulouse, where the A380 was previously manufactured. The final assembly line was inaugurated last July with the aim of boosting A321neo production, surpassing its smaller sibling in sales. Currently, the model accounts for approximately 60% of Airbus’s total order backlog for the A320 family.
This new Final Assembly Line (FAL) aims to contribute to the ongoing increase in production rates. The goal: reach 75 aircraft per month for the family by 2026. It will also effectively meet the growing demand for the A321neo. While the Airbus A380 production has concluded and its FAL is now focused on the A321neo, certain parts of the facility will continue to be used for inspections and maintenance of stored aircraft.
Returning to the aircraft in question, it is an A321-251 powered by CFM Leap-1a engines. This unit, with the test registration F-WWAD and serial number 11281, will serve Pegasus Airlines. It has already been registered as TC-RDK and is expected to be delivered to its operator in the coming weeks.
Airbus celebrated the news on X (formerly Twitter):
This is not just another #A321neo ✈️ …
It is the first A321neo fully assembled from our Toulouse ???????? Final Assembly Line – Voilà!
— Airbus (@Airbus) November 27, 2023
See Also: Airbus Takes Decisive Step, Separating Leadership for Commercial Aircraft Unit Once More
The global network of A320neo FALs includes four in Hamburg, two in Toulouse, two in Mobile, and two in Tianjin. All these facilities will be capable of assembling the A321neo.
Continued expansion of the capacity to produce A320 family aircraft could provide Airbus with a significant competitive advantage, given the current high demand for single-aisle aircraft.
