In its most recent revision, Airbus changed its delivery targets. In early December 2025, the European aircraft manufacturer said it would deliver around 790 aircraft this year, instead of the previously targeted 820.
The company reduced its initial target in light of recent supplier quality issues affecting fuselage panels, which have impacted the Airbus A320 family delivery flow. However, it remains unclear whether the manufacturer will be able to reach this target, as it still needs to deliver more than 100 aircraft.
133 Aircraft Still Needed To Hit 2025 Delivery Goal
As of November 2025, Airbus had delivered a total of 657 aircraft to 87 customers worldwide. Based on current figures, the company needs to deliver an additional 133 aircraft to reach its revised 2025 delivery target of 790 aircraft. At the same time, the European aircraft manufacturer delivered approximately 29 aircraft during the first half of December, reflecting a slower-than-average delivery pace for the month.
Industry sources and analysts told Reuters on December 15, 2025, that the slowdown is partly due to some airlines awaiting further information on corrective actions related to a recent fuselage issue. In a comment to Reuters, aviation analyst Rob Morris said:
“If they are to deliver another 104 aircraft to achieve the restated guidance of around 790, that seems like a very steep challenge at this point in the month.”
Weak November Performance Triggered Delivery Target Revision
Airbus delivered 72 new aircraft to 42 customers in November 2025. This is 12 fewer aircraft than it delivered in the same month last year, marking a 12% drop in year-over-year production rates. The deliveries were also down from October’s total of 78, which had been the high point for Airbus deliveries so far this year.
Weak performance in November prompted the plane maker to revise its delivery outlook, lowering its target by 30 aircraft. The company said the decision followed the discovery of a supplier quality issue affecting metal fuselage panels on its A320 family aircraft.
The problem stems from panels produced by supplier Sofitec Aero that are manufactured at an incorrect thickness. Reuters reported that internal documents presented to airlines show that a total of 628 A320-family aircraft have been flagged for inspection. That includes 168 already in service, 245 on final assembly lines, and another 215 still in early stages of production.
Airbus Deliveries Drop: Will The Manufacturer Make Its Revised 2025 Target?
The drop in deliveries has been blamed on quality issues with fuselage panels
Additional Disruptions That Affected The Airbus A320 Family
Last month, the Airbus A320 family experienced software issues that led to the temporary grounding of thousands of aircraft, potentially contributing to the recent slowdown in delivery progress. On November 28, 2025, Airbus ordered the grounding of numerous A320 family aircraft after investigators linked an A320 midair incident to a software glitch triggered by solar radiation. Approximately 6,000 aircraft were affected.
Although the software fix was implemented relatively quickly for most aircraft, some airlines were unable to avoid significant operational disruption. While many carriers completed the required updates promptly, others were forced to cancel numerous flights or warn passengers of potential cancellations and delays. The emergency directive to fix the software glitch happened after investigators linked a sudden loss of altitude on a JetBlue flight to interference caused by “intense” solar radiation.
The JetBlue flight from Cancun International Airport (CUN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on October 30, 2025, made a sudden, uncontrolled descent after a malfunction with its elevator aileron computer. As a result of the incident, the flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Tampa. Three passengers were injured during the severe loss of control, and the pilots of the flight in question informed air traffic control that the injured passengers may have sustained lacerations. The airline confirmed that medical personnel met the aircraft upon landing and transported those requiring treatment beyond basic first aid to local hospitals.
