Airbus' 2025 Delivery Target: A Delicate Dance Around Engineering Bottlenecks
Despite faced delays, Airbus CEO claims they are on track to meet delivery targets.
Airbus has set its sights high, aiming for a whopping 820 deliveries in 2025. Yet, the dance between production and supply chain logistics has proven tricky, with bottlenecks in engine delivery and other crucial components causing a headache or two.
As of the present, Airbus has chalked up 243 deliveries this year, a significant gap from the target pace. The company remains tight-lipped about new orders, leaving industry analysts guessing if there's a strategic pause leading to significant announcements, much like those at the International Paris Air Show.
The Engine Conundrum
Engine supply issues continue to give Airbus a cold sweat. The limited availability of engines is slowing down production and delivery of aircraft, particularly for models like the A350 and A330neo. In recent months, Airbus has managed to produce only one A350, far below its desired rate of six aircraft per month, and slightly under the A330neo production goal of four per month.
Navigating the Recovery Timeline
Although Airbus hangs onto its 2025 delivery target, the recovery timeline remains uncertain owing to ongoing supply chain disruptions. The company targets increasing A350 production to ten aircraft per month by 2026 and twelve per month by 2028. However, achieving these ambitious goals on schedule seems like a stretch given the current production levels.
Given the challenges, it's safe to assume that Airbus will continue to deal with delivery delays in 2025. However, the company's unwavering commitment to its targets signals that they're pulling out all the stops to address these issues, potentially leading to a smoother production environment in the latter part of the year or early in 2026.
[1] Supply Chain Management (SCM) Challenges in the Aerospace IndustryRaghu Sudhakar, 2019
[4] Airbus Deliveries Down in May, Zero New OrdersReuters, 2025
[5] Airbus Production Milestones: A Roadmap for the FutureAirbus Papers & Research, 2025
Technology plays a crucial role in Airbus' bid to enhance production and supply chain logistics, aiming to address bottlenecks such as engine delivery issues. The company's plans involve increasing A350 production to ten aircraft per month by 2026 and twelve per month by 2028, which would require advanced technology solutions to streamline the manufacturing process.
