Airbus 1Q Deliveries Impacted by Engine and Parts Shortages

Airbus A320

Supply Chain Constraints Hit A320 and A350 Programs

Airbus delivered 136 aircraft in the first quarter of 2025, six fewer than the same period last year. This shortfall reflects persistent supply chain issues, notably engine shortages and delayed parts from Spirit AeroSystems.

A320 family deliveries fell to 106 aircraft, down from 116 last year. CFM International’s Leap engine deliveries remain constrained, affecting output. However, Airbus delivered more A220 jets — 17 units, up from 12 a year ago.

Meanwhile, A330 deliveries dropped to four from seven, while A350 deliveries rose to nine, up from seven. Despite the dip in total quarterly deliveries, output increased monthly — from 25 in January to 71 in March.

Airbus Maintains 2025 Guidance Amid Delivery Bottlenecks

Airbus is still targeting 820 total aircraft deliveries in 2025, with a significant ramp-up expected in the second half. Leap engine supplies are projected to normalize by mid-year, enabling faster delivery rates from July onward.

Gross orders reached 280 aircraft in Q1, with net orders totaling 204 after cancellations.

The company’s backlog now stands at 8,726 aircraft — about 10 years of production at current rates.

Airbus output remains the primary barometer of its industrial performance, even though deliveries do not perfectly align with production. As a result, market watchers closely follow monthly shipment trends for insights into aerospace supply chain recovery.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Airbus’ Q1 data underscores the fragility of global aerospace supply chains, especially in engine and structural components. While order books remain strong, execution risk continues to weigh on output. Leap engine normalization and Spirit AeroSystems’ reliability will be key to Airbus delivering on its ambitious 2025 targets.