Airbus is in the final stages of launching its second final assembly line (FAL) dedicated to the A320neo family at its facility in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The new line is expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of this year, strengthening the European manufacturer's production capacity in a key market.
The confirmation came from Robin Hayes, CEO of Airbus Americas, during an interview at the MRO Americas conference in Atlanta. Hayes noted that the company is accelerating the installation process and expects it to be up and running soon, marking an expansion of Airbus's industrial footprint on U.S. soil.
The Mobile plant, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, initially began with a single assembly line for the A320 family. In 2020, it added a line for the A220, complementing production of that model, which also takes place in Mirabel, Canada. The plan for this second A320neo line was originally announced in 2022, with a target launch in the second quarter of 2025. That timeline has now been slightly adjusted to the third quarter.
Challenges in A220 Production
According to a report by our partner site Aeroin, Airbus is reaffirming its goal of reaching a production rate of 14 A220 aircraft per month by 2026, combining output from the Mirabel and Mobile facilities. However, current figures underscore the challenge: only 17 A220s were delivered in the first quarter of 2025, and a total of just 75 were delivered throughout 2024.
These expansion efforts come as Airbus, like the rest of the aerospace industry, continues to grapple with persistent global supply chain issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. These difficulties impacted 2024 deliveries, when Airbus delivered 766 aircraft—falling short of its initial target of 800. For 2025, the manufacturer has set a goal of 820 deliveries, and Hayes expressed optimism about reaching it.
Pratt & Whitney Engines Not the Current Bottleneck
A key point highlighted by Hayes is that current production constraints are not due to a shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines—specifically the PW1100G powering the A320neo and the PW1500G for the A220. Despite well-documented issues related to the recall of faulty metal components affecting engines in service and causing airline disruptions, Hayes confirmed that Pratt & Whitney is on schedule with deliveries of new engines for Airbus production lines. This suggests that the current bottlenecks lie in other components or factors within the complex supplier network.
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