Manufacturing at Airbus’ final assembly lines has restarted to a limited extent, while wing production has been paused.

A research program that could allow the design of future commercial aircraft to begin with the passenger cabin has been launched by German aerospace center DLR.

Austrian aerospace parts and services provider FACC has said that a “large part” of its staff is expected to apply for “short-term work” starting Apr. 6 and that it will revise plans to ramp up a new Croatian factory while suspending its dividend payment to shareholders for 2019.

Amid signs that Boeing is hoping to resume production of the 737 MAX in May the company says flight tests of the three current versions of the model, the -7, -8 and -9, are continuing despite the general shutdown of its Puget Sound facilities because of the coronavirus.

Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR, following a pause in its activities for four days last week, is resuming production at its Toulouse final assembly line.

The funds “will be used to support further development of the Lilium Jet as well as underpinning preparations for serial production," the Munich-based company says.

After having been thought for a few days to be on a strong upward curve, demand for aircraft storage during the COVID-19 crisis is still unstable, according to specialist Tarmac Aerosave.

In a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus Boeing is temporarily suspending production across its Puget Sound sites for 14 days starting Mar. 25.