Ramping Up A320 Family Production

How Airbus is expanding its operations to meet growing demand

Responding to surging demand from airlines and lessors, Airbus is ramping up production across all its commercial aircraft programmes. The company’s global industrial footprint is expanding rapidly, including two new A320 Family final assembly lines (FALs) in China and the United States. At the heart of this growth is the A321neo — the largest and most in-demand member of the A320 Family.

A fun fact: an Airbus A320 Family aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world every two seconds. The programme has accumulated nearly 20,000 orders and, in October 2025, became the most delivered airliner type in history. With supply chain pressures easing post-pandemic, Airbus is executing an historic production ramp-up to meet record market demand for both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, including the A330neo and A350.

The A321neo — Leading the Charge

Airbus aims to reach a production rate of 75 A320 Family aircraft per month by 2027 — the highest output ever seen in civil aerospace. Achieving this “rate 75” target is a collective effort uniting Airbus, its affiliates and a global supply network.

The A321neo, available in standard, long-range (LR) and extra-long-range (XLR) variants, has proven exceptionally popular. It now represents roughly two-thirds of the A320 Family backlog of more than 7,000 aircraft. Its strong sales performance is a key driver behind Airbus’ decision to accelerate narrowbody production.

A Global Production Network — The Sun Never Sets on the A320 Family

To achieve this record pace, Airbus has strategically expanded its global industrial base. The final quarter of 2025 marked a major milestone with the inauguration of two new A320 Family final assembly lines.

In October 2025, the second FAL in Mobile, Alabama, doubled A320 Family production capacity in the United States. Only days later, a new FAL opened in Tianjin, China — a testament to Airbus’ long-term commitment to one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, expected to become the largest by the early 2030s.

These new facilities enhance flexibility and resilience across Airbus’ production system. The Tianjin site features advanced manufacturing technologies, solar panels, reclaimed water systems and geothermal energy, while the expanded Mobile site now includes new hangars for both A320 and A220 production, paint shops, and upgraded delivery centres.

Across four main production hubs — Tianjin, Toulouse, Mobile and Hamburg — and more than 20 Airbus and affiliate sites worldwide, A320 Family production has truly become a round-the-clock global operation.

European Investment and In-House Strengthening

In Europe, Airbus continues to invest heavily in its long-established A320 Family facilities. Hamburg’s four assembly lines are now fully capable of producing the A321 in all variants, including the complex long-range and extra-long-range configurations.

In September 2025, a new automated assembly hall for the A321XLR’s rear centre fuel tank opened at Airbus’ Augsburg, Germany site, further boosting efficiency. Meanwhile, a new A320 Family FAL in Toulouse — housed in the repurposed former A380 facility — is scheduled for completion by mid-2026.

Airbus is also reinforcing its industrial ecosystem by acquiring Spirit AeroSystems’ operations related to the A350, A220 and A320 Families. This move brings over 4,000 skilled employees into the Airbus family, expanding its aerostructures capabilities alongside Airbus Atlantic and Airbus Aerostructures.

A Record Backlog and a Confident Future

With a total order backlog exceeding 8,600 aircraft — dominated by the A320neo Family — Airbus is well positioned to maintain its leadership in commercial aviation.

The company’s ongoing investments in global production, technology, sustainability and workforce capability are setting new benchmarks for aerospace manufacturing. As Airbus advances toward rate 75, one thing is clear: the sun truly never sets on A320 Family production.