Airbus begins build at wide body jet factory

The 74,000 m2 factory will house the first stages of final assembly for the A350 XWB, the joining up of the fuselage and wings. Aircraft testing and cabin equipping will then be completed at a nearby A330/340 facility. The €140 million facility at Toulouse, France, will provide work for more than 1,000 people when fully operational. The new streamlined aircraft assembly process will allow teams to work in parallel, reducing the time from start of final assembly to aircraft delivery by 30 percent. Airbus CEO Tom Enders said: “The detailed definition freeze at the end of 2008 and the start of construction work on our new final assembly line confirm that the A350 XWB is making steady progress. Set for first delivery in 2013, the A350 XWB will shape efficiency for the aviation industry. The global Airbus community, including our employees, suppliers and customers, are working closely together for the success of this programme.”