Airbus considers raising output of A320 family jets

Airbus is considering increasing production rates for its best-selling single-aisle A320 jetliners, as airlines around the world place orders for hundreds of planes to meet surging demand for air travel. “The success of the products is forcing us to look at any opportunities we can have to improve the rate,” Eric Schulz, Airbus’s new sales chief, said Tuesday. “We have not come to any conclusion yet. But this is something we are looking at very, very closely.” Airlines, particularly in Asia, are scrambling to secure aircraft to support the rapid expansion in emerging markets including China and India, where more and more people are taking to the skies for the first time. The demand has boosted orders for both Airbus’s A320 family of single aisles as well as Boeing’s 737-- models that form the backbone for short-haul travel. <br/>