Airbus to Phase Out Saint-Martin A320neo Assembly Line Following Launch of Second Lagardère Production Facility
Airbus Advances A320neo Production with New Toulouse Assembly Line
Airbus has officially launched final assembly operations for its A320neo family aircraft on a newly inaugurated production line in Toulouse, France, marking another milestone in the company’s efforts to modernize and expand its manufacturing capabilities. The new assembly line is located at the Jean-Luc Lagardère facility, a site that previously housed production activities for the A380 superjumbo aircraft.
The latest line, formally inaugurated on June 15, is the second A320neo-family assembly line established at the Lagardère site. Airbus expects the first aircraft assembled on this new line to be rolled out later this year. While the company has begun transitioning production to the upgraded facility, it has not yet announced a definitive timeline for shutting down the older assembly lines at the nearby Saint-Martin site.
The Saint-Martin lines have played a key role in supporting Airbus’ production ramp-up during the development and commissioning of the new Lagardère facilities. Once the transition is complete, Airbus plans to consolidate A320neo-family production within the modernized Toulouse complex.
Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury emphasized that the new facility will provide the flexibility and capacity needed to address strong global demand for the A320neo family, particularly the larger A321neo variant. The investment forms part of Airbus’ broader strategy to increase production rates and strengthen its position in the single-aisle aircraft market.
The Toulouse expansion follows similar increases in manufacturing capacity at Airbus assembly facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and Tianjin, China. With a total of 10 A320neo-family assembly lines worldwide, Airbus is targeting a production rate of 70 to 75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027.
The first A320neo-family line at the Lagardère site was inaugurated in July 2023. Airbus says the new-generation facility incorporates advanced digital systems, automated logistics, and robotic technologies designed to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance workplace ergonomics.
Once both Lagardère lines reach full operational capacity and the Saint-Martin support lines are retired, Toulouse will serve as a key pillar of Airbus’ global single-aisle production network, complementing four assembly lines in Hamburg, Germany, and two lines each in Mobile and Tianjin.
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