The world’s largest planemaker Airbus has taken the industry by surprise by asking suppliers to prepare for a sharp increase in production after the coronavirus crisis – yet at the same time it quietly delayed its timetable for recovery.
Airbus said on Thursday it had asked suppliers to be ready to support an 18% increase in output of its best-selling A320 jet in the second half of 2021, partially reversing cuts when the virus provoked a global slump in travel.
That pushed the European company’s shares up 6%, but also risks upsetting unions facing job cuts and governments being asked to dig into their coffers for crisis support.
