Airbus delivered 81 aircraft in May, up from 51 in the prior year, following the resolution of a Chinese regulatory issue that had delayed 20 planes. Despite this rebound, ongoing supply chain disruptions continue to challenge the company's annual delivery target.
The resolution of the Chinese regulatory issue and the rebound in deliveries are crucial for Airbus to meet its annual targets, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by supply chain constraints and geopolitical pressures on global manufacturing.
Airbus delivered 81 aircraft in May, a significant increase from the 51 jets delivered in May of the previous year. This acceleration was partly due to the resolution of a "Chinese administrative topic" that had held up the delivery of approximately 20 planes. Industry sources suggest this delay was a tactic by China to pressure European regulators concerning the certification of its C919 passenger jet. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency confirmed work on the C919's validation is progressing with Chinese cooperation. Despite this progress, analysts caution that it remains to be seen if May's performance is sufficient to meet Airbus's annual delivery target of 870 planes, as the company continues to grapple with broader supply chain issues, including missing engines and cabin equipment, and slow deliveries from a key supplier plant.