Airbus mulls A330 output cut

Lower output: A file picture showing an A330 aircraft fuselage at the Airbus China completion plant in Tianjin. In February, Airbus scaled back 2020 output plans for A330 aircraft by about 25% from 53 in 2019. — Reuters

LONDON: Airbus SE is considering a cut in A330neo jet production after the wide-body’s biggest customer said a coronavirus-driven slump in travel had forced it to defer deliveries, according to people familiar with the matter.

The planemaker may make a decision as soon as this month, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. In a filing in February, AirAsia X, representing about one-fourth of outstanding A330neo orders, said it would postpone deliveries of the model.