Airbus weighs A330 output cut after largest buyer seeks deferral

Airbus is considering a cut in production of its A330neo jet after the biggest customer for the wide-body said a coronavirus-driven slump in travel had forced it to defer deliveries, according to people familiar with the matter. The European planemaker is reviewing its production plans and may make a decision as soon as this month, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. In a filing last month, AirAsia X, which represents about one-fourth of outstanding orders for the model, said it would postpone deliveries of its new A330neos. The prospect of a reduction, coming on the heels of a recent cutback in A330 annual output to 40 jets, illustrates just how quickly the damage from the travel slowdown is rippling through the aerospace industry. The epicentre is in China, where flights have fallen by as much as 80% and forced a government takeover of HNA Group. An Airbus spokesman declined to comment on its plans. Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury told French senators Wednesday that Airbus expects an “even tougher” year on long-haul routes.<br/>