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Overall, 2015 has been a year of solid and
wide-ranging Airbus accomplishments. For
example, the A320neo was certified by the
aviation authorities on both sides of the
Atlantic just five years after its
launch. In addition, Airbus delivered 14 A350s –
making good its pledge to the airlines who are
now benefitting from the world’s most efficient
and advanced airliner.
Important progress was also made on the A350
program’s next variant, the A350-1000
whose major components and structures are
now taking shape across various production
sites. Likewise, parts are now in production for
the first A330neo with the machining of its
first engine pylon and centre wing-box
components. In addition, there has been good
news for the flagship A380, 10 years after its
first flight, with the program breaking-even for
the first time.
Another notable highlight was of course
September’s official opening of the first Airbus
factory in the US,
at Mobile on
Alabama’s
Gulf Coast, where between 40 and 50 A320
Family aircraft will be produced annually by
2018. On the other side of the globe in China,
additional orders for the A330 not only
complements our plans for a new A330 completion
and delivery centre in Tianjin, but also helps
to smooth our transition towards the A330neo.
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