Airbus boosting American production amid tariff dispute
The Mobile, Alabama, plant will add 275 jobs, the European planemaker says
(Reuters) - Airbus will increase production of A320-family jets at its Mobile, Alabama, plant to seven a month by the beginning of 2021, adding 275 jobs, the European planemaker said on Thursday.
Airbus currently produces close to six single-aisle jets a month at the plant and expects to reach that level in the next few weeks.
The increase comes as Airbus faces U.S. tariffs on aircraft assembled in Europe in a dispute over aircraft subsidies.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EADSY | AIRBUS SE | 41.55 | -1.74 | -4.02% |
Aircraft assembled at its U.S. plant and delivered to U.S. airlines are currently exempt from the 10% duties.
Airbus has previously said it envisages total capacity of eight aircraft a month in Mobile, where it began assembling aircraft from sections shipped from Europe in 2015.
A Jetblue Airways Airbus A320
Airbus reiterated on Thursday it aims to increase overall A320-family production to 63 a month in 2021.
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It has begun producing the smaller A220 aircraft in Mobile and expects to make the first delivery in the third quarter, rising to four a month by the middle of the decade.
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(Reporting by Tim Hepher; editing by David Evans)