The milestone event was attended by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, CEO Commercial Aircraft Lars Wagner, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, and hundreds of employees. It underscores the company’s commitment to scaling production amid robust global demand.

This new line joins the first A320 Family FAL inaugurated in the same facility in July 2023. Together, they maximise the vast footprint of the former A380 assembly building while introducing state-of-the-art digital controls, automated logistics, and robotics.

These advancements improve workflow efficiency and enhance workstation ergonomics, helping Airbus maintain the highest quality standards across its global network.

Meeting Soaring Demand for the A320 Family

The A320 Family, particularly the larger A321neo variant, continues to see exceptional market interest. As of the end of May 2026, the backlog stands at an impressive 7,499 aircraft, with 5,615 being A321neo models.

The new Toulouse line provides essential flexibility and capacity to support Airbus’s ambitious production ramp-up.

CEO Guillaume Faury highlighted the significance of the achievement. “Bringing this new A320 Family production line to life right here in Toulouse is a proud moment for all of us and a great achievement by our Commercial Aircraft teams.”

“This facility provides the necessary flexibility and capacity to meet strong market demand, especially for the A321neo, and supports our production ramp-up trajectory towards 75 A320 Family aircraft a month.”

The Toulouse expansion forms part of a broader global strategy. By the end of 2026, Airbus will operate ten final assembly lines dedicated to the A320 Family across four sites:

• four lines in Hamburg (Germany), two in Mobile (United States),
• two in Tianjin (China), and now
• two in Toulouse (France).

Recent expansions in Mobile and Tianjin complement this European investment.

Significant Local Impact and Future Growth

The new line will progressively ramp up operations, eventually bringing the total workforce at the Jean-Luc Lagardère site to nearly 1,500 people. The first line already employs around 700 workers, creating valuable skilled jobs in the Toulouse region, a historic heartland of European aviation.

The Jean-Luc Lagardère facility itself is impressive. Spanning 50 hectares and built between 2002 and 2004 for the A380 programme, its central hangar measures 490 metres long, 250 metres wide, and 46 metres high.

The 122,000 m² surface area is equivalent to about 500 tennis courts. It now efficiently supports narrowbody production.

Airbus continues to target a monthly production rate of 70 to 75 A320 Family aircraft by the end of 2027, stabilising at rate 75 thereafter.

This second Toulouse line plays a critical role in achieving that goal while ensuring consistent high-quality output for customers worldwide.

Strategic Importance for the Aviation Industry

The inauguration reflects Airbus’s proactive approach to modernising its industrial system. By investing in advanced technologies and expanding capacity in key locations, the company strengthens its ability to respond to airline needs for more fuel-efficient, reliable single-aisle aircraft.

The A320 Family remains a cornerstone of global aviation, flown by over 300 operators and known for its innovation, including fly-by-wire technology and the spacious Airspace cabin.

This development not only boosts Airbus’ competitiveness but also reinforces Toulouse’s position as a world-leading aerospace hub.

As air travel demand grows, such investments ensure a resilient supply chain capable of delivering the next generation of commercial aircraft safely and efficiently.

Credits: Airbus

The post Airbus Inaugurates Second A320 Family Final Assembly Line in Toulouse first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

The government plans to double the aviation tax on flights of more than 500km from 5 to 10 euros per passenger from next year. Finance minister Jan Jambon recently indicated that the government did not intend to reverse the measure.

If the increase goes ahead, Ryanair says it will remove five of its 19 aircraft from its base at Charleroi Airport from the winter season. The airline also plans to cut 20 routes in Belgium — 15 from Charleroi and five from Brussels Airport — reducing capacity by around 2 million passengers a year.

According to Ryanair, the move would also affect around 150 jobs in Charleroi, although pilots and cabin crew would be offered opportunities to transfer to other bases.

“Costs for staff and fuel are more or less the same everywhere,” said Ryanair DAC chief executive Eddie Wilson. “The only variable cost is access costs: government taxes, airport charges and handling fees. We are not going to add capacity in airports, regions or countries where those costs are increasing.”

The dispute comes despite a recent victory for Charleroi Airport, after the Walloon government refused to approve a separate municipal tax of 3 euros per passenger proposed by the city of Charleroi. Airport operator BSCA welcomed the decision but warned that the federal aviation tax remained the main obstacle to growth. The Walloon government has also urged the federal authorities to reconsider the increase.

O’Leary noted that Ryanair still wants to expand in Belgium. “We would like to realise part of our growth in Charleroi and Brussels Airport, but then the aviation tax must be abolished and airport costs must come down,” he said.

The airline says that if the tax increase is abandoned, the planned cuts would not go ahead. If the tax were abolished entirely, Ryanair claims it could increase passenger numbers in Belgium by roughly 50 per cent by 2030, to around 16 million passengers annually.

However, O’Leary ruled out any suggestion that Ryanair would close its Charleroi base altogether. “We will not threaten to close Charleroi,” he said. “It is one of our larger bases and we have spent the past 30 years helping to build up the airport.”

Credits: Ryanair

The post Ryanair maintains threat to cut Belgian operations over higher aviation tax first appeared on AircrewNews.com.