AIRBUS parent company EADS is planning to increase jetliner production after a spate of new orders raised hopes of an end to a steep industry recession.

Europe’s largest aerospace company said Airbus would increase production of its best-selling family of single-aisle planes to 40 a month by the first quarter of 2012, from 34 now.

Wings for Airbus airliners are made at the company’s Broughton plant, although the plans to increase productions are not expected to result in any immediate jobs boost.

The company is forecasting it will deliver 500 jetliners this year, edging past last year’s record of 498 aircraft, of which 402 were A320 Family aircraft.

It has also upped its forecast for new jetliner orders by a third to more than 400 this year after a buying spree by aircraft leasing companies at the recent Farnborough air show.

The aircraft leasing industry is helping spearhead a recovery in demand as air travel rebounds from the global slump caused by the financial crisis.

Airbus booked 206 commitments of the single aisle jets at the air show and has a record order backlog of more than 2,200 A320 Family aircraft.

It said it will increase the monthly production rate of its A320 Family aircraft to 38 a month in August 2011 and to 40 a month in first quarter 2012. Currently Airbus turns out 34 of the aircraft each month, a figure due to rise to 36 from December.

Tom Williams, executive vice president of programmes, said: “The recent Farnborough International Airshow, where Airbus garnered orders worth $28 billion in total and the leasing companies made a strong return to the market, was clear evidence of a strong and positive trend towards recovery

“Increased demand for the aircraft and a healthy backlog led us to decide to further ramp up our production rate to 40 aircraft per month by 2012.”

More than 6,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold and over 4,300 delivered to more than 310 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling commercial jetliner.