Airbus has revised its 2025 delivery target to approximately 790 commercial aircraft, citing quality issues with its A320 family of jets, raising concerns about its sales pipeline.
Airbus, the prominent airplane manufacturing giant, has announced a reduction in its 2025 delivery target, now set at around 790 commercial aircraft. This figure represents a decrease of 30 aircraft from previous expectations, attributed to ongoing quality issues affecting the A320 family of jets.
The announcement came on Wednesday, following a report by Reuters that highlighted an industrial quality problem. This issue surfaced shortly after an emergency recall of thousands of A320s over the weekend, necessitating a software update.
Analysts from Jefferies noted in a communication to investors that not all of the 30 aircraft removed from the delivery schedule are expected to require parts changes. They pointed out that Airbus’s statement did not indicate any engine-related delays, which could be a positive sign for the company.
The A320 family is currently grappling with a dual crisis involving both software and manufacturing challenges. In late October 2025, a JetBlue A320 experienced a sudden nose-down incident linked to a vulnerability in its flight-control computer (ELAC), triggered by rare solar radiation events. This incident led to a global precautionary software update affecting around 6,000 A320-family aircraft.
Airlines worldwide, including major carriers like IndiGo and Air India, have implemented the necessary updates on most of their A320 fleets, with fewer than 100 aircraft still pending modifications. Regulatory bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued emergency airworthiness directives in response to the situation. While the software update caused some delays, it did not result in any major accidents.
Shortly after addressing the software issues, Airbus disclosed a manufacturing flaw involving fuselage panels. This defect, caused by incorrect metal thickness supplied by a subcontractor, affects 628 aircraft—comprising 168 already in service, 245 in final assembly, and 215 in early production stages. As a result, inspections are required, leading to further delays in deliveries.
Although Airbus has stated that the flawed fuselage panels do not pose an immediate safety risk, the full extent and long-term implications of this issue remain uncertain. It is currently unclear how many aircraft may ultimately require panel replacements.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury indicated on Tuesday that the fuselage panel problem had already impacted deliveries in November. He informed Reuters that a decision regarding December deliveries would be made within hours or days. The company is expected to release its November delivery data on Friday, with industry sources suggesting that only 72 aircraft were delivered that month, which is lower than anticipated.
Despite these challenges, Airbus has maintained its financial goals for the year, targeting an adjusted operating income of approximately 7.0 billion euros (around $8.2 billion) and free cash flow of about 4.5 billion euros. This indicates a level of resilience in the company’s financial planning amidst the current difficulties.
The situation surrounding the Airbus A320 family underscores the complex challenges inherent in managing a globally significant commercial aircraft program. The combination of software vulnerabilities and manufacturing issues has tested both Airbus and the airlines that depend on its jets. While the precautionary software updates have largely addressed immediate safety concerns, the emergence of fuselage-panel defects has introduced new uncertainties, affecting both operational aircraft and those still in production.
For airlines, these developments have resulted in temporary delays and disruptions, highlighting their reliance on a single aircraft family for high-volume operations. Overall, this situation illustrates the ongoing necessity for rigorous quality control, swift responses to technical issues, and transparent communication to maintain confidence throughout the aviation industry.
Source: Original article