Airbus Faces Logistics Challenges but Maintains 2025 Delivery Target of 820 Aircraft
Airbus remains steadfast in its goal to achieve 820 deliveries by 2025, despite bottlenecks affecting the availability of engines and key components. Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus’s commercial aviation division, stated that the company remains “cautiously optimistic” in the face of these challenges.
Bottlenecks: Engines and Cabin Components
Although supply chains have shown significant improvement in recent months, Scherer warned that critical delays persist. These delays particularly impact the supply of CFM engines for single-aisle aircraft and cabin components for wide-body models. Even lavatories have been added to the list of items facing availability issues.
“We have around 40 gliders parked at our facilities,” Scherer remarked, using Airbus’s internal term for aircraft that are ready but cannot be delivered due to missing engines.
→ AirAsia Prepares an Order for at Least 100 Airbus A220 Aircraft
The Role of CFM in the Equation
CFM, the joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, supplies over half of the engines for the A320neo family, Airbus’s best-selling model. It is also the sole engine provider for the Boeing 737 MAX, albeit with a different variant. Engine availability is a critical factor, as they are sold separately from the airframe.
While CFM has not issued an official statement, company executives have noted progress in stabilizing their own supply chain, which could reverse the slow start to the year.
Ramping Up Production: Targeting 75 Units per Month
Scherer also addressed aircraft production, a key metric for assessing the health of the supply chain. Currently, Airbus is producing around 60 A320neo family units per month and aims to reach 75 by 2027.
Air Demand Remains Strong
Despite logistical hurdles, demand for new aircraft from airlines remains “very strong,” according to Scherer. These remarks were made during briefings ahead of the Paris Air Show, which kicks off next week.
Related Topics
Boeing’s quarterly loss shrinks as jet deliveries rebound
Bangladesh Purchases 25 Boeing Aircraft in Key Move to Ease Trade Tensions with U.S.
Unresolved Engine Anti-Ice System Issue Delays 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 Certification Until 2026
FAA to Review Boeing’s Supply Chain Before Decision on 737 MAX Production Increase
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.