LONDON – This week, Airbus announced plans to hire 13,000 people in 2023 as the manufacturer continues to ramp up operations.
Around 7,000 of these will be newly created posts by Airbus.
Of the 13,000 roles, 9,000 of them will be based in Europe.
Baril: Repeating The Same Action from 2022…
Commenting on this recruitment drive was Thierry Baril, Airbus’ Chief Human Resources & Workplace Officer, who is looking to repeat the same action completed in 2022:
“In 2022, we welcomed more than 13,000 new employees within Team Airbus around the world, in a complex environment which tested our resilience and attractiveness as a global employer.”
“Following the success of our recruitment last year, we will hire over 13,000 employees again in 2023.”
“We call on talented individuals from all over the world to join us in our journey to make sustainable aerospace a reality and to help us build a better, more diverse, and inclusive workplace for all our employees.”
Airbus plans to ramp up production
Airbus aims to produce around 65 A320 Family aircraft per month by 2024, which will explain why more staff will be needed.
Overall, the European planemaker has plans to ramp up production to 75 aircraft per month by 2025, but 65 per month by early 2024 represents a delay of around six months.
With the first flight of the A321XLR taking place last month, the manufacturer is aiming for an entry-into-service date of 2024.
Airbus has also said they are looking into increasing the production rate on their widebody fleet, being the A330neo and A350XWB.
On top of this, Airbus is also looking at increasing its production rate on the A220 program from 10 to 14 per month.
Airbus forecasts that the A220 program is expected to reach an operating profit for the first time in 2025, which is a milestone worth celebrating.
With this in mind, Airbus is also seriously evaluating longer ranges or stretched versions of the A220, depending on the situation.
Airbus also notes that the relationship between players in the supply chain is crucial to maintain its integrity in the production line and customer service and, importantly, to compete against Airbus.
Challenges Faced by Airbus…
The company has been struggling to meet its delivery targets for the past few years, and this has led to a backlog of orders.
In order to ramp up production, Airbus will need to invest heavily in its manufacturing infrastructure and hire more workers.
This will be a challenge given the current economic conditions in Europe.
Additionally, Airbus will need to find ways to improve its supply chain in order to avoid delays in the production process.
How this affects the airline industry
As Airbus ramps up production rates, the airline industry will be affected in a number of ways. First, airlines that have ordered aircraft from Airbus will receive their deliveries sooner than anticipated.
This could affect an airline’s fleet planning, as well as its operations and maintenance schedules.
Second, the increased production rates could lead to a shortage of aircraft components, which could drive up prices for airlines.
Finally, the increased competition from Airbus may lead to price wars among aircraft manufacturers, which could benefit airlines.
Overall…
Ramping up Airbus production rates is a big step in the right direction for the aviation industry.
It not only helps to keep costs down and make air travel more affordable, but it also provides employment opportunities to hundreds of people around the world.
Airbus plans to continue increasing production rates in order to meet growing demand, making air travel easier and more accessible for everyone.
