View of an Airbus A321XLR aircraft being assembled on assembly line, at the Airbus Jean-Luc Lagardere site in Cornebarrieu, near Toulouse, France, April 4, 2025.
Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said last week that deliveries would remain “very backloaded,” with most aircraft expected to be handed over in the final two months of the year as the company awaits engine shipments. At the end of September, Airbus had 32 completed jets awaiting engines, known in the industry as “gliders.”
Analysts expressed increasing confidence that Airbus could achieve its annual delivery target following a slow start to the year. Independent aviation analyst Rob Morris noted that Airbus is most likely to deliver between 800 and 810 jets but “has a shot” at reaching 820, depending on the timing of engine availability. Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie also estimated 78 deliveries in October, adding that first production flights supported the company’s delivery goal. Bloomberg reported the same October delivery figure earlier this week.
However, industry sources raised concerns about potential challenges linked to the company’s accelerated year-end delivery push. They noted that the surge in activity could affect production volumes in the first quarter of next year, as engine manufacturers typically shift focus from new aircraft assembly to maintenance operations during that period.
In addition to its delivery objectives, Airbus aims to achieve an internal order target of around 1,200 new aircraft this year, more than double the 514 net orders recorded in the first nine months, according to industry sources. Much of this depends on progress in ongoing negotiations for a major order of 500 jets from China, which has been under discussion for more than a year.
Beijing did not announce new aircraft orders when Airbus inaugurated its latest assembly line in China last month. However, industry observers said part of the potential Chinese order could still be finalized before the end of this year. Securing this agreement would play an important role in helping Airbus meet its internal order target and strengthen its position in one of the world’s most important aviation markets.
Airbus is also negotiating potential deals with several other airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, during the Dubai Airshow this month. The company declined to comment on any ongoing order discussions or specific sales targets, as it does not publicly disclose order objectives.
With analysts optimistic and production accelerating, Airbus appears on track to meet its delivery target for 2025 while continuing to pursue significant new contracts to secure its growth in global aviation markets.
