Airbus Sticks to 2025 Goal of 820 Jets Despite Shortages

Airbus is standing by its goal of delivering 820 commercial aircraft in 2025, despite persistent engine shortages, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said on Sept. 9 at the Global Aerospace Summit in Washington. He noted that while the backlog of completed but engine-less jets—known as “gliders”—has eased somewhat, it continues to weigh on output.

“It has slightly improved, but there’s still a lot we need to get from engine makers between now and shortages involving both Pratt & Whitney, part of RTX Corp., and CFM International, a GE-Safran joint venture. In July, Faury revealed that around 60 finished Airbus airframes were grounded awaiting engines.

Despite the supply bottleneck, Airbus reaffirmed its 2025 delivery target, a 7% rise from 2024. As of August, it had delivered 434 jets, outpacing Boeing’s 385.

In an interview with CNBC, Faury cited quality issues and labor disruptions as causes of the delays but expressed confidence suppliers can meet commitments. He also voiced support for the US-EU tariff exemption on aircraft while warning that economic uncertainty threatens long-term industry stability.