Airbus officially opened its first final assembly line outside Europe with Sunday’s inauguration of the A320 Family Final Assembly Line in Tianjin. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders officiated at a ceremony with more than 600 guests. The FAL is a joint venture between Airbus (51 per cent) and a Chinese consortium comprising the Tianjin Free Trade Zone, AVIC I and AVIC II. It is similar to Airbus’ Hamburg assembly line and its first aircraft will be … [Read more...] about Airbus Tianjin
Aircraft Manufacturers
Americas: Boeing production still idle from ongoing strike
Boeing and the International Association of Machinists union appear far apart and unwilling to compromise to settle a strike, both sides indicate as the strike enters its second month. With a strike by Boeing machinists idling some 27,000 workers since early September, the company looks set for serious delivery delays to an already stretched production schedule. Protracted strike action will have a serious effect on delivery of Boeing’s record backlog. As of 31 July it had 3,695 … [Read more...] about Americas: Boeing production still idle from ongoing strike
Europe/ CIS: Airbus sells its UK wing component plant
Airbus and GKN have signed a contract under which GKN will purchase the wing component and assemblies manufacturing unit based at Airbus’ site at Filton, near Bristol, UK. This includes all operational business, assets and activities being transferred to GKN. As a result of the transaction, GKN has committed itself to make further investment in the unit in order that Filton will continue to play its important role in Airbus’ current and future programmes, Airbus said. The unit is … [Read more...] about Europe/ CIS: Airbus sells its UK wing component plant
China: 2 AVICs become China Aviation Industry Corp
China’s AVIC I recently said that the merged company it is forming with AVIC II will be called “China Aviation Industry Corp. Group”. The merger, which aims to create a state-owned company to oversee aircraft manufacturing in China, including development of a “jumbo aircraft” by 2020 to compete with 737s and A320s, has been delayed several times this year. AVIC I said integration processes are underway but the official start of CAIC Group will be delayed until … [Read more...] about China: 2 AVICs become China Aviation Industry Corp
Boeing
Boeing Commercial Airplanes VPMarketing Randy Tinseth told reporters in Tokyo that “frankly we do not know when the [machinists] strike will end” and that the manufacturer will have to “reassess our production, deliveries and program schedule for the 787 at that time.” Launch customer ANA said last week that it had “reached an agreement with Boeing” on a new 787 delivery schedule that would see its fi rstDreamliner arrive next August. … [Read more...] about Boeing