Airbus tells suppliers: plan now for post-crisis output hike

Holding the keys to any Airbus production increase are the breadth of available financing and the appetite of a trio of heavyweight budget carriers, industry sources said: India's IndiGo, Malaysia's AirAsia and Lion Air of Indonesia.

PARIS: Airbus has asked suppliers to be ready to support a conditional 18% increase in production of its best-selling single-aisle A320 jet family once demand recovers from the coronavirus crisis, the European planemaker said on Thursday.

It is among the first visible moves by aerospace firms to prepare for a possible bounce back from the pandemic and comes days after a major buyer, Wizz Air, predicted a quick rebound for the strongest budget carriers.