Engine supply becomes a bottleneck, Airbus faces challenges in meeting delivery targets

Airbus stated that its most popular model, the A320 series, is facing a lack of stable and reliable engine supply, which is restricting the increase in production and delivery progress.

Airbus said it expects the monthly production of the A320 series to reach 70-75 aircraft by the end of next year, whereas previously the company had forecast reaching the upper limit of that range. Airbus expects to deliver about 870 aircraft to customers this year, up from 793 in 2025.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated that a severe shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines forced the company to make a last-minute push to meet last year’s delivery target, but the goal was still revised downward in the final weeks of the year. Although this year’s delivery target is set to break records, Airbus has been forced to adjust its delivery guidance several times in recent years.

Airbus said: “Pratt & Whitney’s failure to commit to the number of engines ordered by Airbus is having a negative impact on this year’s performance guidance and the production ramp-up.”

In January this year, Airbus’s deliveries fell to their lowest monthly level since 2020, marking the weakest “start of the year” in at least a decade. Meanwhile, rival Boeing has recovered from years of crisis, with deliveries reaching their highest level since 2018.

Airbus's adjusted EBIT for the fourth quarter was 2.98 billion euros, higher than the average analyst estimate compiled by institutions; revenue for the quarter grew 5% to 25.98 billion euros, below analysts’ forecast of 26.38 billion euros.

Editor: Wang Xuning