Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) have extended pauses in production due to the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including both health and safety risks as well as supply chain bottlenecks.
The European manufacturer said it would suspend the production of A220 and A320neo Family aircraft at its Mobile Downtown, AL, plant in the United States. The pause is planned through April 29 and will affect some 1,100 employees. Airbus said that certain activities, including aircraft maintenance, will continue, however.
Airbus also suspended the production of parts at its two sites in northern Germany - in Bremen until April 27 and in Stade until April 11. It said that the latter site would see "some additional pause days in the weeks that follow in selected production departments". Key support activities will continue at both locations throughout the suspension.
Airbus resumed manufacturing in late March following a brief freeze in manufacturing at its main sites in France earlier in the month. However, operations in Spain, the United Kingdom, and Canada "have been temporarily paused reflecting stock levels and latest government restrictions".
For its part, Boeing closed down its Charleston International, B787 assembly site on April 8, reflecting both supply chain issues and a stay-at-home order issued by the state governor. The US manufacturer also extended a suspension of its production activities in Washington state - at Everett, Renton, Seattle Boeing Field, and Moses Lake airports - until further notice.
"These actions are being taken in light of the company's continuing focus on the health and safety of employees, current assessment of the spread of COVID-19 in Washington state, the reliability of the supply chain and additional recommendations from government health authorities," the manufacturer said.
