European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced on Wednesday that it has reduced its 2025 commercial aircraft delivery target due to fuselage panel quality issues affecting its flagship A320 model.
The company now expects to deliver 790 aircraft in 2025, down from the initial target of 820—a reduction of 3.7%. Airbus did not confirm whether the issue would impact 2026 deliveries. The problem stems from a recent supplier quality issue on fuselage panels, which has affected the delivery flow of the A320 family.
Earlier, Airbus warned that up to 628 A320 aircraft worldwide may require inspection due to the “metal plate quality issue.” In a statement to AFP, the company clarified that this number represents the total potentially impacted aircraft, but not all require corrective action. “The number of planes earmarked for checks is reducing day by day as inspections progress to identify those needing specific action,” Airbus said.
The fuselage, forming the outer shell of the aircraft, is critical for both structural integrity and safety. Airbus emphasized that the issue is contained and involves only a limited number of metal panels.
Despite the delivery adjustment, Airbus maintained its previous guidance for adjusted EBIT, expected at around €7.0 billion ($8.15 billion), highlighting that operating performance remains stable.
The announcement follows the company’s recent advisory to clients to take immediate precautionary action to replace software. Concerns initially arose that hundreds of planes might be grounded for extended periods; however, most major airlines reported minimal or no flight cancellations.
Airbus shares reacted sharply to the news, falling more than 10% on Monday before rebounding approximately 1.5% in early trading on Wednesday on the Paris bourse.
