A decision by Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) to set up a new assembly line to increase its A350 production rate is "inevitable" amid increasing demand from airlines for faster deliveries.
Speaking at an October 14, 2026, media briefing, Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner said the plan will be presented to the company's board of directors but insisted the move would "happen rather sooner than later", Reuters reported.
The company's production line is capable of producing 12 to 13 of its flagship widebodies each month, the news agency said, adding that a completely new industrial system and line would be needed to boost output.
Airbus is also continuing to "actively" consider producing larger versions of the A350, as well as a stretched version of its A220, dubbed the A220-500. Wagner clarified that a decision on both projects is expected towards the beginning of a five-year planning period.
According to the report, Airbus approached GE Aerospace to supply engines for the future 400-seat A350, but that interest from the manufacturer had been "muted".
The company first touted the proposal at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Widely referred to as the A350-2000, the new jet would essentially be a longer version of its A350-1000.
New engines
Airbus confirmed in July 2026 that it has continued to evaluate stretched variants of the A220 and A350. At the time, Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic told media at the Farnborough International Airshow that he expected Airbus to finalise the design direction for an extended A350 within a year.
Erginbilgic noted, however, that Rolls-Royce, the sole engine supplier for the A350 family, would need up to seven years to develop a new engine if Airbus selects a design requiring a bigger power plant.
Meanwhile, AirAsia could be a keen contender for a longer A220 variant. The airline has already expressed interest in options for 150 aircraft alongside its firm order for 150 A220-300s.
