Airbus’ delivery of its 7,000th aircraft on 12 December 2011 marked a new achievement as the company continues to accelerate the production output of its single-aisle and widebody jetliners in meeting demand from a widening global customer base.
This delivery was very appropriately a member of the A320 Family, which is one of the world’s best-selling commercial aircraft product lines – with over 4,900 provided from the more than 8,250 ordered by 340-plus customers around the globe.
The other Airbus aircraft contributing to this delivery milestone were its cornerstone medium-haul A300 and A310, of which 816 were supplied during their successful production run; the long-range A330 and A340, with 1,200-plus provided through the end of November 2011; along with the more than 60 very large A380 jetliners received by airlines through early December 2011.
Overall, Airbus’ production output has been increasing since the company handed over its very first aircraft in May 1974: an A300B2. In March 1993, the 1,000th delivery landmark occurred with an A340-300, followed by the 2,000th handover in May 1999 – which also was an A340-300.
Underscoring its rapid growth with an expanded aircraft family, the 3,000th Airbus aircraft delivery was an A320 provided in July 2002, while only three years later – in September 2005 – an A330-300 became the 4,000th aircraft supplied to a customer.
Just two years afterward, the 5,000th milestone was achieved in December 2007 with an A330-200. The 6,000th delivery in January 2010 – involving an A380 – further confirmed the company's continued leading role as a provider of highly efficient aircraft to airline operators and customers around the world.
For the 7,000th jetliner handover in December 2011, the aircraft was an A321 provided to United States-based US Airways – which is one of Airbus’ biggest single airline clients, and also has the distinction of flying the largest A320 Family inventory of any carrier.
