Airbus indicated that, based on its November deliveries and due to the current complex operating environment, it will not meet its target of delivering 700 commercial aircraft by the end of the year.
The European manufacturer delivered 68 aircraft during the penultimate month of the current year. In total, 59 narrow-body (six A220s, 28 A320neo, 25 A321neo) and 9 wide-bodies (four A330s, both neo and ceo, and five A350-900s) left Airbus’ factories. Due to the complexity of current production, with supply chain disruptions initiated by the covid-19 pandemic and continuing to this day, Airbus considers its target of reaching «around 700» commercial aircraft deliveries by 2022 to be out of reach. However, the European conglomerate expects the final figure to be not substantially lower than that figure.
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Despite this, the manufacturer indicated that it remains on track to meet its financial forecasts as set out during the presentation of results for the first nine months of 2022.
Taking into account that the global production complexity «will last longer than expected», Airbus said it will rethink the adjustment in A320 family production. The manufacturer now plans to produce 65 units per month in 2024 when previously, it expected to reach that rate in the summer of 2023. The target of reaching 75 units per month by mid-decade remains firm, the manufacturer said.
In November 2022, Airbus recorded 29 new orders and 14 cancellations, bringing the backlog to 7,344 aircraft. Last month, the European manufacturer received orders for six A220-300s, twelve A320neo, eight A321neo, and three A330-900s. Airbus commercial aircraft orders and deliveries for the full year 2022 will be announced on January 10, 2023.
