Airbus has confirmed its plans to launch a successor to its popular A320 family by 2030, despite ongoing challenges across the aviation industry. Speaking in an interview, CEO Guillaume Faury said the manufacturer is staying on track with its long-term plans for a next-generation single-aisle aircraft.
Airbus is sticking to its timeline
While other aircraft manufacturers have suggested that future narrowbody programmes could be delayed, Airbus says its own plans have not changed. Faury said the company remains focused on launching the programme around 2030, with the aircraft expected to enter service in the second half of the following decade.
The CEO explained that Airbus wants to introduce a product that will remain competitive for decades, rather than rushing a new aircraft to market. According to Faury, technological readiness will play a key role in determining the aircraft’s final design.
Technology is shaping the new aircraft
Airbus has not finalised the configuration of the A320 replacement, with decisions on areas such as engine technology still pending. The company continues to assess which technologies will be mature enough to deliver meaningful efficiency improvements when the programme launches.
Faury said that Airbus is looking beyond current market demands and wants the aircraft to remain relevant well into the future:
“You have to have the right product not just for tomorrow, but also the day after.”
The A320 family continues to be one of Airbus’s most successful aircraft programmes, but the manufacturer is already planning for its eventual replacement. Faury said Airbus is “very committed” to the 2030 launch target and has confidence in the single-aisle market.
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