Key facts
- Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury criticized high regulatory, labor, and energy costs in Europe.
- Faury described European regulatory barriers as 'absolutely horrible'.
- He urged policymakers to address business competitiveness, particularly in France.
- The comments were made at the opening of a new Airbus A321neo assembly line in Toulouse.
- Airbus plans to increase narrow-body production to 75 aircraft per month by 2028.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has called on France and the European Union to address the high costs of regulation, labor, and energy that are impacting businesses. Speaking at the inauguration of a new A321neo assembly line in Toulouse, Faury described the cost of European regulatory barriers as 'absolutely horrible' and stressed the need for improved competitiveness.
Faury suggested that the issue of business competitiveness should be a central theme in the upcoming French presidential election. The new assembly line, located in a former A380 facility, is intended to support Airbus's ramp-up to producing 75 narrow-body aircraft per month by 2028 and is expected to employ around 700 staff.
The Airbus chief's remarks reflect broader concerns among European industry leaders regarding taxes and excessive regulation, highlighting the challenges faced by European businesses in a global market. He noted that Europe is too slow and not conscious of the enormous challenges to its industries when compared to the U.S. or China.