AIRBUS is considering whether to increase production of its popular A320 aeroplane, after parent company EADS posted a net loss of €12m euros for the first quarter.

That compared with a 103m euros profit over the same period last year.

Despite the knock, EADS did build-up a record €12.2bn euro cash pile by the end of the first quarter, thanks to orders for Airbus planes.

The number of A320s made each month – with wings built at the company’s factory in Broughton, Deeside – is set to go up to 40 next year, from 36.

And the company will decide in the next few days whether to increase that rate again, according to Hans Peter Ring, EADS’s chief financial officer.

EADS said it reported a net loss as a result of a decline in the value of cash assets in dollars and pounds, because of the poor exchange rate with the euro.

Meanwhile, revenue increased 10% to 9.85bn euros and earnings before interest and taxes more than doubled to 192m euros from 83m euros last year.

The company took in 6.3bn euros of new orders in the quarter, taking its forward-order book to 422bn euros.

Analysts welcomed the announcement as it showed the single-aisle A320 – already the group’s best-selling aircraft – remained highly popular.

Last month, Airbus said it was bringing forward the introduction of the upgraded version of the A320 after strong interest in a new type of fuel- efficient engine that will power the aircraft.

The so-called A320 Neo is set to come into service in October, 2015.