Tianjin, China - Airbus announced that it has temporarily closed its A320 assembly line in Tianjin due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The planemaker said it was forced to close the factory because of the domestic and worldwide travel restrictions that were posing some logistical challenges for the sustainability of the production.
Airbus's Tianjin factory is a completion center for A320 and A330 jets of the European aircraft manufacturer. The facility is located 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Beijing. Airbus did not state when the center would resume production.
"Airbus is constantly evaluating the situation and monitoring any potential knock-on effects on production and deliveries and will try to mitigate via alternative plans where necessary," the company said in a statement.
More than 20 countries have confirmed cases of the virus, which has infected more than 24,000 people in mainland China. The outbreak has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. Several governments imposed travel restrictions, and lots of airlines suspended flights to and from China.