Quantcast

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

Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Emirates operates with SAF at London Heathrow Airport
British Airways Introduces Brunch Service on Long-Haul Flights
AirAsia FREE SEATS is BACK! - Book Cheap Flight now!
FAA Investigating After JetBlue Plane Skids Off Runway
Virgin Atlantic Offers Family-Friendly Holiday Packages
The Billion-Dollar Outlier That's Rescuing San Francisco Tourism
New Heathrow Security Rule Makes Packing Bags Easier for Travelers
Alaska Airlines Adding More Boeing 787 to Boost Seattle Hub
Ryanair cancels 170 flights, disrupts over 30,000 passengers on French ATC strike
What to Know About Travel to Europe During This Record-Breaking Heatwave
Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
FAA Drone Detection Testing
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
FAA Admits Uncertainty On Drone Numbers In U.S. Airspace, Raising Safety Concerns
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Airbus faces continued delays on annual production targets for its flagship A350 jet
Policy
Webp oi
Guillaume Faury, CEO | Airbus

Airbus is facing ongoing challenges in increasing production of its A350 widebody aircraft, with output still below pre-pandemic levels. Airlines are feeling the impact of these delays, as they must keep older aircraft like the Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s in service longer than planned due to postponed deliveries. Korean Air, for example, has about 20 widebodies delayed by both Airbus and Boeing.

The Airbus A350, available in -900 and -1000 variants, remains the company's flagship widebody model and competes directly with Boeing's 787 and 777X. Since entering service in 2015, a total of 1,428 orders have been placed for the A350 family, with 669 delivered so far. The unique A350-900ULR version offers a range of up to 9,700 nautical miles and is operated by Singapore Airlines. Qantas will soon receive the first A350-1000ULR for nonstop flights from Sydney to London.

Delta Air Lines is currently the only U.S.-based operator of the A350, shifting away from Boeing widebodies. United Airlines has also ordered the A350-900 but does not expect delivery until 2030.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

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.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025

The 13th Annual Breast Care International Walk for the Cure took place in Kumasi, Ghana, drawing around 30,000 participants, including survivors, healthcare professionals, students, traditional leaders, and advocates.

Oct 22, 2025

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to allow for a significant redevelopment.

Oct 22, 2025