Airbus Must Deliver 133 More Jets to Meet Its Reduced 2025 Target

Airbus still has more than 100 aircraft left to deliver in order to meet its revised 2025 production target, raising new concerns about whether the European planemaker can recover from supply chain disruptions and recent technical setbacks.

Earlier this month, Airbus cut its full-year delivery guidance from 820 aircraft to around 790, citing supplier quality issues affecting fuselage panels on the A320 family. Despite the reduction, the manufacturer remains under pressure, as it must still hand over a significant number of jets before the end of the year.

As of November 2025, Airbus had delivered 657 aircraft to 87 customers worldwide. To reach the updated target, the company must deliver an additional 133 aircraft in the remaining weeks of the year. Production data also shows slower-than-normal progress in early December, with only 29 aircraft delivered in the first half of the month.

Industry sources told Reuters that part of the slowdown stems from airlines waiting on further details about corrective actions related to the fuselage panel issue. Aviation analyst Rob Morris noted the challenge, stating: “If they are to deliver another 104 aircraft to achieve the restated guidance of around 790, that seems like a very steep challenge at this point in the month.”

In November, Airbus delivered 72 aircraft to 42 customers, a 12 percent decline compared with the same month last year. Deliveries also fell from October’s total of 78—the strongest monthly output so far in 2025. The weaker performance prompted Airbus to revise its delivery expectations, trimming its target by 30 aircraft.

The fuselage panel issue is linked to components supplied by Sofitec Aero, which produced metal panels at incorrect thicknesses. Internal documents reviewed by airlines show that 628 A320-family aircraft have been flagged for inspection. Of those, 168 are already in service, 245 are on the final assembly line, and 215 are in earlier stages of production.

Delivery Impact From Fuselage Panel Defects

Original 2025 target: ~820 aircraft
Revised 2025 target: ~790 aircraft
Reduction: ~30 aircraft due to inspection and rework delays

Despite the setback, Airbus said its overall financial outlook remains unchanged, indicating the company does not expect the issue to materially affect profitability.

The A320 program is simultaneously facing fallout from a software glitch that led to the temporary grounding of thousands of aircraft worldwide. On November 28, Airbus ordered an urgent update to address a flaw in the elevator aileron computer after investigators concluded that solar radiation had triggered a midair control failure on an A320.

The incident occurred on October 30, 2025, when a JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark suddenly lost altitude following a malfunction linked to the software issue. The aircraft diverted to Tampa for an emergency landing. Three passengers were injured, and crew members reported that some may have sustained lacerations during the abrupt descent. Medical personnel met the aircraft upon arrival, and several passengers were transported to local hospitals.

Although the software fix was deployed rapidly, some carriers experienced serious disruptions, including cancellations and operational delays, further complicating Airbus’s delivery pace.

With only weeks left in the year and multiple technical and logistical pressures affecting output, Airbus faces a challenging path to achieving even its reduced 2025 target. The final delivery tally will determine whether the manufacturer successfully manages its latest production hurdles—or ends the year short once again.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, Reuters.com