Airbus CEO Sees 820 Jet Deliveries in 2025 Despite Delays

Airbus has increased the number of completed aircraft awaiting engines to 60, up from 40 last month, yet it remains confident in its 2025 delivery target of 820 jets—a 7% increase over last year. CEO Guillaume Faury cautioned that meeting this goal “will not be a walk in the park” and expects the delivery schedule to be more back-loaded than preferred. He emphasized that engine suppliers have pledged full support to meet these targets.

The engine supply delays stem mainly from CFM International—a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran—as well as recent disruptions from RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney following a strike. Although Pratt & Whitney’s issues are recent, Airbus noted that most ongoing delays involve CFM engines.

Despite a 5% decline in deliveries during the first half of the year, Airbus continues producing narrow-body jets at rates close to pre-pandemic levels to stabilize supply chains. This has resulted in higher inventory and an unexpected cash burn of €1 billion beyond market expectations in Q2. Nevertheless, Airbus has maintained its full-year financial guidance.

In Q2, Airbus reported adjusted operating profit of €1.58 billion, nearly double the previous year and slightly above analyst expectations of €1.47 billion. Revenue held steady at €16.07 billion versus the €15.78 billion consensus. Growth in Defence and Space and Helicopters offset flat commercial aircraft revenue.

Responding to increased demand for wide-body planes, Airbus confirmed plans to boost A330neo production from four to five jets per month by 2029, with no changes to other production targets.

On trade matters, Faury welcomed the recent EU-US agreement to exempt aircraft and parts from tariffs, calling it “a positive step for our industry.” The company also revised its timeline for acquiring Spirit AeroSystems, now expecting to close the deal in 4Q25—later than initially planned. This transaction will divide Spirit’s assets between Airbus and Boeing.