Airbus April Deliveries Lag 820-Jet Target
Airbus delivered 56 aircraft to 33 customers in April 2025, down from 61 jets in April 2024, according to figures released on May 7. That lifted the year-to-date total to 192 deliveries, up from 136 by the end of March. Even so, with the manufacturer targeting roughly 820 jets for the full year, just 23 percent of that goal has been met.
In February 2025, Airbus had forecast deliveries of around 820 commercial aircraft over the course of the year. To achieve that target with only five months remaining, production outputs and supply chain schedules will need to accelerate dramatically. CEO Guillaume Faury emphasized on April 30 that Airbus is ramping up production in line with plans, but warned that the delivery profile is expected to be backloaded into the latter part of the year.
Faury also revealed that 17 aircraft are currently parked at Airbus facilities while awaiting engine installations from CFM International. These idle airframes underscore the impact of continued bottlenecks in engine supply, a challenge that has affected delivery schedules for several manufacturers in recent quarters. Resolving these engine delays will be critical for Airbus to meet both customer expectations and its own annual targets.
The delivery breakdown for April shows that IndiGo and China Southern Airlines led with five aircraft each, reflecting strong demand among major low-cost and state-backed carriers. Delta Air Lines received three jets, reinforcing its fleet modernization plans for North American routes. Etihad Airways added an Airbus A350-1000 to its long-haul roster, while Starlux Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Delta each welcomed a single A350-900, bringing the total A350 family deliveries to four for the month.
Amid the delivery challenges, Airbus marked a major production milestone in April by rolling out the 12,000th member of its A320 family. That landmark aircraft highlights the enduring popularity of the best-selling single-aisle jet and underscores Airbus’s commitment to meeting global demand for fuel-efficient short- and medium-haul transport. The modern A320neo variants continue to drive order books and backlogs, with airlines worldwide relying on their lower emissions and operating costs.
On the order front, Airbus secured a commitment from China Airlines for ten additional A350-1000 aircraft, a significant endorsement of the ultra-long-range jet’s economics and passenger appeal. An undisclosed customer also placed a firm order during April, further replenishing Airbus’s backlog as it works to recover from supply-side constraints. These new orders help shore up future delivery schedules even as the current year’s target remains a steep climb.
Airbus has hiked its weekly A320 production rates to meet single-aisle demand, but long-haul widebody assembly lines remain more constrained. The ramp-up at its Toulouse and Mobile facilities will need to be complemented by accelerated engine deliveries, certification processes and system integrations. Collaborative efforts with engine manufacturers and suppliers will be crucial to smoothing out the pipeline and reducing parking times for awaiting aircraft.
Market analysts note that while backloaded delivery schedules can strain customer relations and revenue recognition, they also offer Airbus time to optimize production flows and resource allocation. By concentrating volumes in the final months, Airbus can balance workforce demands and minimize early-year disruptions. Still, the pace of ramp-up will need to match or exceed that of 2024, when Airbus delivered a record 720 jets, to stay on track.
With global airline traffic recovering to pre-pandemic levels, carriers are eager to secure new aircraft to expand networks and replace aging fleets. Airbus’s ability to fulfill orders for both its best-selling A320 family and its technologically advanced A350 will determine its competitive positioning against Boeing and emerging rivals. As the year progresses, industry watchers will track monthly delivery tallies to see if Airbus can overcome the early-year shortfall and close in on its ambitious 820-jet target.
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