Thierry Dubois has specialized in aerospace journalism since 1997. An engineer in fluid dynamics from Toulouse-based Enseeiht, he covers the French commercial aviation, defense and space industries. His expertise extends to all things technology in Europe. Thierry is also the editor-in-chief of Aviation Week’s ShowNews.
French unions have reacted negatively—or, at best, cautiously—to Airbus’ Mar. 23 announcement it is partially resuming production in the country, amidst an unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some aerospace suppliers' production facilities are based on continuous processes, as opposed to the manufacturing of discrete objects, and the current COVID-19 coronavirus crisis is therefore creating headaches about operational continuity, an analyst has warned.
Aerospace manufacturing has awakened to a nightmare. Customer demand could swoon as air travel is crippled, battering a sector already reeling from narrowbody and widebody cuts alike.
