Airbus faces continued delays on annual production targets for its flagship A350 jet

Production data shows that after peaking at 112 deliveries in 2019, annual deliveries dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic—falling to just 59 in 2020 and then to a low of 55 in 2021. In comparison, Boeing delivered only 14 Dreamliners in 2021 after delivering more than double that number two years earlier. Airbus' overall commercial aircraft deliveries rebounded to pre-pandemic levels by shipping a total of 766 planes in 2024—well ahead of Boeing's reported total—but only included 38 units of the A350.

By mid-2025, Airbus had delivered a total of 373 aircraft across all models; this includes just one previous-generation A330-200 and thirteen newer A330-900s among its widebody offerings. For the same period, it shipped out twenty-three A350-900s and four A350-1000s—a total of twenty-seven A350s through June.

Airbus received new orders for eighteen units of its upcoming freighter variant (A350F), though eight cancellations offset some gains. Additionally, there were twelve new orders for the A350-900 and sixty-two for the larger -1000 model during this period.

Currently, Airbus produces around six A350s per month—down from ten per month before COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains. The company originally aimed to deliver up to ten monthly by 2026 and twelve monthly by 2028 but continues to face supplier-related setbacks. Spirit AeroSystems remains a key supplier affected by disruptions; Airbus is acquiring relevant Spirit assets as part of an industry restructuring process.

Estimates suggest that Airbus will fall short of its original target for seventy-three to seventy-eight total A350 deliveries in all of 2025—far less than its prior goal of over one hundred units for the year.

CEO Guillaume Faury stated at Airbus’ first-half results call: "Airbus' delivery guidance for 2025 remains unchanged and that it expects to deliver a post-pandemic high of 820 commercial aircraft." Having delivered three hundred seventy-three planes so far this year means Airbus anticipates shipping another four hundred forty-seven before year's end.

While overall commercial aircraft production is back near pre-pandemic highs if current schedules hold steady, specific models like the A350 continue to lag behind their historic peak rates due largely to supply chain issues affecting critical components built at facilities such as those in Kinston, North Carolina and St. Nazaire, France.

Despite these obstacles—and while production rates remain inconsistent throughout each calendar year—Airbus hopes improved supply chains will eventually allow higher output closer to targets set before COVID-19.