Airbus maintains confidence in meeting delivery goals amid persistent engine supply challenges

Pratt & Whitney has struggled to deliver PW1500G engines on schedule, causing delays in A220 deliveries and reliability issues among current operators. Several airlines have grounded multiple A220s while waiting for engine replacements, which further limits available engines for newly built aircraft.

The Airbus A320neo family also faces production issues linked to both CFM LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines. Durability and maintenance problems have forced Airbus to allocate available engines carefully among customers. The PW1100G's reliability concerns have led to some aircraft being delivered without engines or grounded after delivery.

Despite these setbacks, Airbus is moving forward with plans to increase production rates, aiming for 75 aircraft per month by 2026 with gradual increases throughout 2025. Achieving this goal requires careful coordination across suppliers and reflects the importance of the A320neo line in Airbus’s long-term strategy.

As of now, there are orders totaling 11,256 units across the A319neo (57), A320neo (4,057), and A321neo (7,142) variants. In November 2024, Iberia operated the world’s first commercial flight using an Airbus A321XLR—a milestone as more operators prepare to receive their first XLRs through late 2025 and into 2026. The model offers transatlantic range capabilities previously limited to widebody jets.

In contrast with narrowbody programs facing acute engine issues, Airbus’s widebody lines present a different situation. The twin-aisle A330neo continues securing modest orders mainly as replacements for older models; meanwhile, the flagship long-haul A350 relies on Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines known for their fuel efficiency and high reliability since introduction. While earlier versions such as Trent 7000 faced durability issues—fewer than those experienced by its predecessor—the overall performance has been stable compared with narrowbody powerplants.

Boeing’s approach differs: Its upcoming 777X will use only GE9X engines from General Electric; its longstanding partnership with CFM International powers all recent generations of Boeing single-aisle jets; and most Boeing 787 Dreamliners are equipped with GEnx rather than Rolls-Royce Trent powerplants due largely to perceived reliability advantages.

"Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has reaffirmed the company’s confidence in meeting its 2025 aircraft delivery targets, despite ongoing challenges related to engine availability and supply chain delays."

"Speaking earlier this week at the US Chamber of Commerce 2025 Global Aerospace Summit, Faury was optimistic that the planemaker would meet its target of 820 deliveries by year's end."