Airbus’s January deliveries drop by a third

Although commonly regarded as a slow month for aircraft manufacturers, Airbus stated on 5 February that is had delivered 21 aircraft to 15 customers in January, compared to 31 in the same month last year. January 2021 deliveries consisted of three A220s, 12 A320neos, four A320ceos, and a single A350.

Despite this reduction Airbus said it met targets set in an “adaptation plan” instituted soon after the onset of the pandemic. The company also reported no orders for commercial airplanes last month, compared with net orders for 274 aircraft in January 2020.

In January Airbus said it would delay a planned increase in A320-family production rates as it reacts to further demand pressure created by the pandemic. The expected gradual increase from the current average rate of 40 A320s per month will now increase to just 43 per month in the third quarter and 45 by the end of 2021, compared with the previously planned jump to 47 of the narrowbodies starting in July.

The company’s A220 monthly production rate will increase from four to five aircraft per month starting at the end of the first quarter as previously planned, while widebody output remains at current levels.