Airbus’ Annual Deliveries Just Below Target, Yet Remains Optimistic for 2024 Outlook

Airbus has successfully delivered 766 aircraft in 2024, just missing its target of 770, largely due to ongoing supply chain disruptions. The company’s CEO of Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer, remains positive, describing the year as a success despite the challenges faced in the global aerospace industry.

This marks a slight increase from 2023, when Airbus delivered 735 jets, but it remains significantly below the 863 deliveries reached in 2019. Despite this, Airbus celebrated several key milestones throughout the year, with a notable push in December, where 123 jets were delivered in the final month alone. Scherer emphasized the collective effort behind this achievement, acknowledging that 2024 was a complex year due to labor shortages and ongoing supply chain issues.

Challenges and Future Outlook for Airbus

Airbus had initially aimed for 800 deliveries but revised this target downward following production setbacks earlier in the year. A key issue has been the delay in reaching its goal of producing 75 A320 aircraft per month, which is now set for 2027 instead of 2026. Nonetheless, Airbus remains optimistic about reaching this target by 2027.

The company also recorded 826 net orders in 2024, bringing its backlog to a significant 8,658 jets. While the order book remains strong, supply chain constraints persist, particularly in engine production and aerostructural parts. These challenges, coupled with potential new tariffs under incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, may complicate the recovery for European aerospace companies.

While Boeing continues to face safety and labor issues, Airbus maintains its lead in global deliveries, a title it has held since 2019, following the grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max after two deadly crashes.