The opening ceremony for the new FAL, with the first aircraft (an A321) on the line visible in the background
Photo by: Airbus
Europe-based global major aerospace group Airbus on Monday inaugurated its latest final assembly line (FAL) for its A320-family single-aisle airliners. Located at the Airbus complex in Toulouse, in France, this is the group’s tenth A320-family FAL. These FALs are spread across four countries on three continents (Europe, Asia and North America).
“The inauguration of this new A321-capable [FAL] in Toulouse represents another milestone in the ongoing modernisation of our global industrial system,” highlighted Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “This FAL will contribute to the ongoing production ramp-up to 75 A320-family aircraft per month in 2026, while meeting the increased demand for A321s which currently represents around 60% of the total A320-family backlog. We’re pleased to see this new facility join our worldwide network of final assembly sites which will comprise four FALs in Hamburg, Germany; two in Toulouse, France; two in Mobile, United States; and two in Tianjin, China, all [of] them capable of assembling the A321.”
The new FAL has been installed in the Jean-Luc Lagardère assembly building, which was originally built to house the A380 Superjumbo FAL. The first aircraft being assembled on the new FAL is an A321, which is expected to be rolled out by the end of this year.
The new FAL contains a number of innovations, including digital production control, making use of smartphones and tablets (reducing the use of paper); parts distribution implemented through automated logistics; and the use of light-weight robots to join aircraft sections. These are intended to set new standards for health, safety and sustainability as well as maximise efficiency and product quality.
Initial operation of the new FAL started at the end of last year, when the first fuselage sections for the first aircraft were delivered. It is scheduled to continue ramping up production until it reaches steady state in 2025. It will then directly employ some 700 workers.