The numbers look simple on paper: Airbus is targeting 870 aircraft deliveries this year. But as the final quarter begins, the European company finds itself in a real race against time, with 323 aircraft still to deliver in just three months.
What happened?
Airbus data show that the company delivered 547 commercial aircraft from the start of 2026 through the end of September, up 7.9% from the same period last year (507 aircraft). That included 72 aircraft delivered to 37 customers in September alone.
Despite this growth, deliveries represent only about 63% of the annual target of roughly 870 aircraft. To meet it, the company needs to deliver 323 aircraft between October and December—an average of around 108 per month, compared with about 61 per month in the first nine months of the year.
For comparison, Airbus delivered about 286 aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2025, including 136 in December alone. That means it needs to deliver 37 more aircraft this year than it did in that period.
Despite the challenge, Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner told Reuters he was “very confident” the company would meet its annual target.
What’s the difference between orders and deliveries?
In the aviation industry, two figures are tracked constantly:
Orders: Aircraft that airlines contract to buy, which may take years to be delivered.
Deliveries: Aircraft that actually leave the factories and join airlines’ fleets.
The paradox is that Airbus is not short of demand—quite the opposite. Since the start of the year, it has received 1,174 gross orders. After 69 cancellations, net orders stand at 1,105 aircraft, more than double the net orders recorded over the same period in 2025. The backlog of aircraft awaiting delivery reached 9,310 at the end of September, equivalent to more than ten years of production at this year’s target rate.
So the problem is not selling aircraft, but building and delivering them quickly enough.
Why is Airbus behind schedule?
Several factors are contributing to the delays, most notably:
Engine shortages: Airbus has previously said that a shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines is limiting production of its best-selling A320neo family.
Quality issues: Quality problems with some A321neo components have added pressure to the delivery schedule.
Postponed deliveries: According to Reuters, deliveries of around 20 aircraft moved from the third quarter to the fourth because of production delays.
A330 issue: Airbus suspended A330 deliveries in June and July after a tool was found inside the tail section of one aircraft, then resumed them in August. The company also asked operators to inspect certain aircraft—potentially around 160, according to Reuters—including military variants.
Why does the delivery figure matter?
Because delivery is the moment an order turns into revenue: airlines usually pay most of an aircraft’s price when they take delivery. That is why investors closely monitor monthly delivery figures, and why meeting the annual target is seen as a test of the company’s ability to deliver on its promises.
The figure also has historical significance. If Airbus meets its target, it will surpass its annual record, set in 2019, when it delivered 863 aircraft.
The impact extends beyond Airbus. Airlines around the world rely on new aircraft arriving to expand their networks and replace older planes. Any delay means less capacity and could affect ticket prices.
What about our region?
Airbus has a strong presence in the region. In September alone, Egypt’s Air Cairo ordered 15 A320neo aircraft. In Saudi Arabia, Saudia Group ordered 105 aircraft from the A320neo family in 2024, while Riyadh Air ordered 60 Airbus aircraft that same year.
Airbus’s production and delivery pace therefore affects expansion plans for airlines in the region, as Saudi Arabia pursues ambitious plans to grow its aviation and tourism sectors.
How will Airbus try to meet its target?
Airbus has typically concentrated a large share of its deliveries in the final months of the year, as it did in December 2025, when it delivered 136 aircraft in a single month. The A321neo is its largest delivery segment, with 267 delivered so far this year.
Further ahead, Airbus plans to raise A320-family production to between 70 and 75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027, produce 13 A220s and 12 A350s per month in 2028, and build five A330s per month in 2029.
The striking paradox:
Airbus now faces a striking paradox: a backlog large enough to last more than ten years, alongside production capacity constrained by engines and supply chains. The next three months will determine whether the company can turn this demand into aircraft in the skies—and set a new record in its history.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes and aims to explain the news in a simple, reader-friendly way. The information in it comes from published news sources and has been adapted and simplified. It does not represent the position or an official statement of any entity. This information may be updated after publication, so readers are advised to consult official sources for full details.