Airbus SE (XPAR-AIR) is under pressure to accelerate aircraft deliveries in the final months of 2025 to meet its annual target of 820 jets, a 7% increase from last year. The European aerospace giant delivered approximately 60 aircraft in August, marking a notable uptick from the same month in 2024. However, cumulative deliveries for the year remain about 3% behind the pace set in 2024, totaling around 433 jets.
The company’s delivery performance is closely tied to revenue, cash flow, and airline fleet expansion plans. Supply chain disruptions particularly delays in receiving engines from CFM and Pratt & Whitney, as well as cabin equipment have hampered Airbus’s ability to meet its targets.
To mitigate delays, Airbus has been assembling aircraft without engines, known as “gliders,” in anticipation of increased engine availability in the second half of the year. As of mid-year, 60 gliders were in the system. Once engines arrive, it typically takes one to two months to complete and deliver the aircraft.
Rob Morris, former head of consultancy at Cirium Ascend, estimates Airbus will need to deliver an average of 97 aircraft per month from September through December surpassing pre-pandemic records of 91–92 monthly deliveries. Morris places the probability of Airbus reaching 810 deliveries at just 5%, forecasting a more realistic outcome of 790–800 jets.