Airbus has confirmed that it is to scale back deliveries of its A380 superjumbo.
The European manufacturer is to target 12 deliveries a year from 2018, down from 27 delivered last year, “in line with the current order intake”.
The company “will continue to improve the efficiency of its industrial system to achieve breakeven at 20 aircraft in 2017 and targets additional cost reduction initiatives to lower breakeven further”.
Airbus said it expects the impact on employment will be mitigated based on the flexibility within the wider Airbus programme and opportunities within other divisions.
Airbus reached breakeven at 27 deliveries of A380s in 2015. There are currently 193 of the double decker aircraft in operation with 13 airlines.
Eighteen carriers have ordered 319 A380s to date. A total of 14 aircraft have been delivered so far this year with a backlog standing at 126.
Airbus chief executive, Fabrice Brégier, said: “With this prudent, proactive step we are establishing a new target for our industrial planning, meeting current commercial demand but keeping all our options open to benefit from future A380 markets, which we consider in the environment of ongoing aviation growth and constrained airport capacity as a given.
“We are maintaining, innovating and investing in the A380, keeping the aircraft the favourite of passengers, the airlines and airports – today and in the future.”
The announcement at the Farnborough Airshow came as Airbus revealed $20 billion worth of orders for smaller aircraft, including 100 A321neos for AirAsia, 72 A320neo for Indian low cost carrier Go Air, 25 A320neos for Germania, four A321s for Wow Air and 12 A350-1000s for Virgin Atlantic.